09-03-2009, 10:30 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 341
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The Imposing Potala Palace In The Amazing Lhasa
We wake up to our third day in this amazing city, Lhasa. We both got to sleep after we arrived in Lhasa byChina flightsin from our night of singing and partying at Music Bar, and push ourselves to stumble over for breakfast at 9:30am! The whole group eventually lumbers in, groggy but happy, we laugh about last night’s fun and eat a Chinese breakfast. There are fruit and snacks stands right outside our China hotelso we pick some up, and water, lots of water our guide reminds us. Then all twenty-two of us hop on a bus and drive the fifteen minute drive to the most recognizable landmark in Lhasa Tours, and all of Tibet, the Potala Palace. The incredible Potala Palace is built on Lhasa’s highest point and if you have seen any movie about Tibet you have seen the Potala Palace. It is considered to be the center for both spiritual and political power for Tibetans. These days the Palace is home to less than twenty Tibetan monks, there used to be several thousand here, and it is rumored to have over 1,500 rooms. Today only a small portion of it is available to the public. Our China Travelguide fills us in as we climb the hundreds of steep steps up to the entrance. We are sweating, huffing and puffing madly as we try to catch our breaths and remain together as a group up to the entrance. The first palace was built by Songsten Gampo in 631, and it was merged into the tri-colored building that exists today. There is a white palace, a red palace, and a yellow palace. I only heard about the white and red sections but I’m sure we saw some of the yellow areas too. There is the White Palace, built in 1645, which is the entrance to the main building. We were instructed there is to be absolutely no picture taking of the guards, or once we are inside, and we only have 60 minutes exactly inside the palace and then we must be out. here is money swishing around beneath our feet as we climb steps, stop to admire an image, and move on. My head is spinning by the time our hour is up and I have a chance to grab a quick book of one of kind only for sale in the Potala Palace postcards, and we make it out, literally, with two minutes to spare. According to the local custom, you have to tour clockwise around; don't step on the doorsill; don't smoke in the halls; don't take photos without permission!It is not easy for visitors to climb to the top building because of its height, so you'd better slow down. Because the halls are always chilly; you'd better take a coat while visiting! Potala Palace is allowed less than 2300 tourists and pilgrims to enter each day. Therefore I suggest you prepare for a successful China Tours by purchasing tickets beforehand. Please note that when buying your tickets, you have to show your ID card or passport.
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