Overview:

is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which includes the Potala Palace, the former home of the Dalai Lama, the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of the city and the sacred garden of Norbulingka. The Potala Palace is the highest ancient palace in the world, rising to a height of 170 meters and comprising 13 stories with over 1000 rooms. The Jokhang Temple is considered the most sacred temple of Tibet, having been built in the 7th Century. Norbulingka is a beautiful park and palace complex of traditional Tibetan architecture, considered the 8th Wonder of the World. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in China
Prominent Features:

The Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, including the Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka in Lhasa, Tibet in China is a property listed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO. It is an ancient architectural complex of great historical and religious importance in the history of Tibet. The Potala Palace is the main component of this ensemble and it was built in the 7th century. It is considered the most revered structure in the entire Tibetan Buddhist region and is also an important symbol of Tibetan culture. The complex also includes the Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka, two other grand temples also located in central Lhasa. Both of these temples are Yarlung Valley UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Jokhang Temple is one of the oldest and sacred temples in Tibet and contains numerous artwork and frescoes. The Norbulingka, on the other hand, is known as the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. These sites are all important elements of the cultural and religious landscape of the region and are also part of the overall architectural ensemble of the region. They are considered a unique and precious example of the cultural heritage of Tibet. The sites have also been found to be of great religious and cultural value to the people of Tibet. Thus, the ensemble of the three sites is a symbol of the heritage of the region and a significant part of the cultural and spiritual life of the Tibetan people, and this is why they were inscribed on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in China.

History:

The Potala Palace and the nearby Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka in Lhasa, Tibet, constitute a historic ensemble with a powerful spiritual character associated with the Tibetan Buddhist stupa-style architecture, and represent the epiphany of centuries of Tibetan Buddhist traditions in architecture. This ensemble is an outstanding example of an urban ensemble with a three-dimensional interlinking of spaces and architecture that has formed naturally over centuries, based on its function, the landscape, topographical features, and local culture. The Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple were originally established between 634 and 647 AD by Tibetan rulers Songtsen Gampo and Trisong Dhetsen. The Potala Palace is located at the site of a preexisting fortress, of which the foundations were laid in the 5th century AD. The Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple became the chiefs of religious and political institutions, respectively. The Norbulinka Nunnery was established as an official residence of the Dalai Lamas in 1684 by the fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso. The complex is set on 346 hectares of land and is also made up of various garden complexes, parks, and administrative and educational buildings. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Potala Palace and its surroundings have been further developed and enlarged by successive generations of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners. The ensemble has been patronised and maintained by successive Tibetan Governments. Today, the historic ensemble of the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Norbulinka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an outstanding example of a religious and political complex in a Himalayan cultural landscape, and is the place of great significance in the spiritual life of the Tibetan people. Visit one of the famous monuments of China with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Potala Palace is the highest ancient palace in the world, and was constructed over centuries from 637AD. 2. It was the winter palace of the Dalai Lama and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 3. The Jokhang Temple is the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism and the main destination of the Tibetan pilgrims. 4. Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama's summer residence, is a beautiful garden with several important culturally-significant structures. 5. The Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace has 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues. 6. The buildings were constructed by thousands of craftsmen, including Tibetans, Mongolians, and Nepalese, over a period of 1,000 years. 7. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visit the complex every year for spiritual, religious and educational purposes. 8. The Potala Palace was completely destroyed by an earthquake in the 18th century and reconstructed in the 19th century. 9. In 2001, The Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace was added to United Nations’s World Heritage List. 10. The historic site is home to many rare cultural artifacts and is a landmark monument for both Chinese and Tibetan culture. One of the historical monuments of China, it tells the story of a bygone era