The Potala, in Lhasa, the palace first of the kings of Tibet, later of the Dalai Lamas, is built on a steep hill. The earliest version is believed to have been built by King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. The Fifth Dalai Lama began construction of the present version in 1645. The Fourteenth Dalai Lama fled in 1959, and has been living in exile up to the present day.
Zhou Enlai (Chou En-lai) is said to have been the person who protected the Potala from destruction during the Cultural Revolution.
The Front (south side) of the Potala.
The back of the Potala
Copyright © 2005, Edwin E. Moïse. Revised June 24, 2005.