Background

Lhasa’s Potala Palace is a major symbol of Tibet and has been must-see for visitors to the region since it was first built in 641 by Songtsan Gambo, ruler of the Tubo Kingdom, for his bride, Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty.

The complex was ruined in a fire after it was struck with lightening, and subsequently restored by the Fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th century.  Repeated repairs and expansions finally brought the palace to its present dimensions in 1645.

After the fifth Dalai Lama moved into the palace in the 17^th century, it quickly became a focal point of Tibetan and Buddhist culture, as art, books, paintings, and treasure all flowed in from around the region. The palace, which is built on a mountain in the center of Lhasa Valley at an altitude of 3,763 meters, was listed as a world cultural heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1994.

Renovation of Potala Palace

A five year renovation project on the Potala Palace began in 1989 at a cost of 55 million Yuan. A heavy rainfall in 1998 caused some parts of the palace to collapse, prompting a second repair effort.

Then, in 2002, China started a broader renovation effort on three major Tibetan cultural treasures, including the Potala Palace, spending a total of 330 million yuan (approximately about $48.97 million). 179 million of that was used to repair the Potala Palace.

This more recent effort includes 55 sub-projects, with a focus on maintaining the ancient building, its famous murals, the local environment, and improving and upgrading public facilities like fire prevention, drainage systems, and lightning protection.

These photos show the magnificent Potala Palace at different time.