Potala Palace

While entering the Potala Palace, our guide Tenzing forgot his sunglasses at the checkpoint and hurriedly went inside. He returned with a winning smile, introducing Potala Palace as the winter residence of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century. It represented an ensemble of administrative offices and religious centers.

Potala Palace carries the rich history and cultural heritage of Tibet. To locals, it is a memorial evoking various emotions. To tourists, the Palace offers a unique first hiking experience at high altitude, with a great panoramic view, and exquisite statues and displays inside made from precious alloys and jewels.

Despite my best intentions, I had not been successful in getting a picture of the Buddhist lamas, but Potala Palace was an exception. On the way up, my request was granted, and I took the following picture where I thought the monk was willing to show his pride in being a Buddhist in front of the iconic landmark.

We returned to our hotel in Lhasa at the end of our trip, but I had one unfulfilled desire – we hadn’t seen Potala Palace at night, though we had heard it looks magnificent when illuminated. We had to change our hotel room for a reason. When we entered the room in the evening, the illuminated palace was waiting straight outside our window, bathed in bright red and white hues. It looked like a new bride, dazzling and radiant. It was difficult to tear our eyes away, let alone our cameras.