COOL THINGS IN JAPAN YOU MUST SEE
Entering the city my first sight of Potala Palace was one of those “Oh, I’ll never forget this” moments you experience while traveling.
The sheer size and scope of Potala Palace dominate the city and it can be seen from virtually everywhere. At night the Palace is even more impressive.
The Potala Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the home of the Dalai Lama until he fled to India in 1959 after the Tibetan uprising. Construction started in 1645 reportedly over an already existing structure from 637AD. It’s actually two separate palaces.
The White Palace houses previous Dalai Lama tombs, the traditional home of the Dalai Lama and monks’ quarters. The Red Palace is strictly used for religious purposes. Today it is a fascinating museum.
Since the Palace has 1000 rooms and over 200,000 statues, it would take weeks to see in its entirety, but there are many other things to do in Tibet.
Getting to Potala Palace is almost as arduous as getting to Tibet. The 2,564 steps to the Palace are very steep but the views are magnificent. Climbing to the top of Potala Palace is certainly worth the effort.