Rising above Lhasa, the Potala Palace fuses monastic, administrative, and residential functions of the Dalai Lamas. Expanded in the 17th century into the White and Red Palaces, it houses chapels, stupas, and vast collections of thangkas and scriptures. Conservation at high altitude addresses seismic risk, timber and masonry fatigue, visitor impact, and microclimate control in a sacred, living heritage site.
Tradition links the Potala’s earliest royal structures to the 7th‑century Tibetan Empire. The grand complex seen today stems largely from the 17th‑century Fifth Dalai Lama, who consolidated spiritual and temporal rule and enlarged the site into the White (administrative/residential) and Red (religious) Palaces.
Built of stone and rammed earth with immense timber frames, the palace steps up the Red Hill in terraced volumes. Chapels hold reliquary stupas of Dalai Lamas, gilded roofs, and a treasury of thangkas, sculptures, sutras, and ritual instruments that reflect centuries of Tibetan artistry and belief.
Beyond its museum aspects, Potala remains a locus of pilgrimage and ritual. Ceremonies, processions, and daily monastic routines thread through courtyards and chapels, binding the building’s identity to living practice.
High‑altitude freeze–thaw cycles, seismic risk, and visitor pressure strain masonry and timber. Interventions prioritize minimal change, traditional materials (earth renders, lime mortars), careful roof waterproofing, and discrete structural reinforcement. Crowd and route management modulate flows to protect fragile interiors while maintaining access for pilgrims.
Permit rules and timed entry vary seasonally; acclimatize to Lhasa’s altitude and take time to absorb details in the Red Palace chapels.
