Pictures of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet

The first palace of the "Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace" in Lhasa, Tibet, was originally built by King Songtsen Gampo in 637 who used the site as a meditation retreat. The Fifth Dalai Lama - Lozang Gyatso - started the reconstruction of the Potala Palace in 1645 after his advisers had told him that the site on the Red Mountain (3'700 meters) between Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa was perfect as a government seat.

The Potala Palace was the winter residence of the Dalai Lama until 1959. The site contains over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues.

The Potala Palace in Lhasa was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. In 2000 and 2001 Jokhang Temple - one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites - and Norbulingka - the Dalai Lama's former summer palace constructed in the 18th century - were added to the list.

Do you have a question? Use our online support system! Simply click on the "live chat" icon, fill in the required fields and choose an available operator.