POTALA PALACE

High 118 m wide, 400 m wide, it dominates the plain of Lhasa. In the th century, Songtsen Gampo built his palace on the red hill he named Koukhar Podrang. This first building only remains two halls: the cave where he used to meditate and above, the chapel which contains one of the three statues statues of sandalwood (found in Kyirong) of Lokesvara, an ancient form of Tchenrézi. The other two are in Nepal and Dharamsala. Above the door, one can read a Tibetan, Chinese and Manchu inscription, which means «fruit of the field of merit».

Like the Dalai-Llamas later, Songtsen Gampo was considered the embodiment of the protector of Tibet, Tchenrezi. This is why its cap contains the image of the Amithaba Buddha associated with it.

The palace followed Palace's name, in memory of the mountain of southern India devoted to Shiva by Hindus and Kuan (Sanscrite form of Chenrezi) by the Buddhists. The Shöl column, erected in 764, facing the Palace, by a Général general, is now on the other side of the road. It tells us how Tibetan troops captured Central Asia and the Chang-An Chinese capital (Xian).

The construction of the current palace, begun in 1645 under the reign of the 5 ^th Dalai Lama, lasted almost 50 years. In 1648, the latter transferred the Drepung government into the white palace, which includes administrative buildings. The Palace remains the residence of the Dalaï, to the last of them. The red palace houses the chapels, and the white palace houses the houses.

Over the centuries, the building expanded, each Dalai Lama making his contribution. All their tombs, in the form of shrines (kudung), are also there. Plundered during the Cultural Revolution, the building was not damaged thanks to Zhou Enlai's personal intervention - the last floor burned by accident in 1984.

The visit takes place on the three floors of this palace as a veritable labyrinth.

Not all chapels are open, far from it, and from one day to the next, some open and others close.

We never do twice the same visit. Everywhere, statues, objects and shrines are abundant and you may feel a little lost. Here is a brief overview of the chapels you will pass through, driven by the crowd of pilgrims… or tourists.

Upper Floor: Chapel of Maitreya, whose statue would contain the brain of Atisha.

Chapel of mandalas in three dimensions: Yamantaka, Guhyasamja and Samvara. Chapel celebrating victory over the Three worlds. A chapel of immortal happiness dedicated to Amitayus, the Buddha of Longue Vie, with a representation of Ekajati, the guardian of the Dzogchen who has only one eye and a tooth. Tomb of the 13 ^th Dalai Lama, two-storey reliquary. Chapelle Chapel (see its history). There is a steep staircase, the central part reserved for the Dalai Lama.

Floor below. Chapel of Kalachakra, with statues of the 176 llamas of the lineage, and of the seven kings of Shambhala. Chapel of Sakyamouni. Chapel of Amitayus, Long Life Buddha.

Meditation cave of King Songtsen Gampo, filled with statues with his wives, son and ministers Thönmi Sambhota and Gawa.

Lower floor. The large hall of assembly has thirty main pillars interspersed with a white fabric. The throne would only have served the 6 ^th Dalai Lama.

Chapel of tombs, impressive golden reliquary of the 5 ^th Dalai Lama, called the only ornament in the world, surrounded on the right and left by those of the 10 ^th and 12 ^th Dalai Lama. The other eight contain relics from Sakyamouni.

Chapel of wisdom holders (rigdzin). Guru Rinpoche and his seven Indian Masters, followed by the eight events of Guru Rinpoche escorted from his two companions Yeshe Tsogyal (Tibetan) and Mandarava (from Zahor).

Chapel of steps of the path towards the Awakening (lamrim), work of Tsongkhapa.

Chapelle du saint, dedicated to the 5 ^th Dalai Lama, with the 11 ^th, reliquary, eight Buddhas of Medicine and the Buddhas of the Three times (past, present and future).

It is through this chapel that you leave the Palace by following a corridor.

Palhalubu (Tralha-Lubu). From the Palace roof you can see this small cave monastery nestled at the foot of Iron hill (chakpori). A very good place to make a Palace photo in the morning. Songtsen Gampo would have reflected in the cave dedicated to the Naga, marine deities (lou).