Climbing Tibet’s Potala Palace at 3,700 m (12,100 ft), is a difficult task indeed. The Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, made famous as the winter residence of the Dalai Lama until 1959, was first built by a Tibetan king in AD 637, and used primarily as a meditation retreat. Potala Palace was rebuilt in 1645 to be used as the fifth Dalai Lama's seat of government. Today, Potala Palace is situated between two major monasteries in old Lhasa, and is a museum housing thousands of shrines, statues and manuscripts within its countless rooms. Clearing the last turn on the last set of stairs, you will be greeted by panoramic views of the city of Lhasa.The altitude affords unlimited visibility, and the azure skies, dabbed with ...
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