Potala Palace is located on Marpo Ri Hill in Lhasa at an altitude of 3700 meters (12,100 feet). The name Potala seems to have been inspired by Mount Potalaka, said to have been home to Bodhisattva Avanlokitesvara.The palace served as the residence of the Dalai Lamas until the 14th one moved to India. The palace is now a museum, its doors open to the general public.
The palace was built by King Songtsen Gampo in 637 as a place to receive his Tang wife Wen Cheng, but it was done on a much smaller scale than the current palace, and by 1645 it was virtually in ruins. In 1645 the fifth Dalai Lama had the palace rebuilt and made it his residence. The palace soon became the center of Tibetan power and politics. Then the 13th Dalai Lama added extensively to the palace and increased it to its current size of 32 acres.
Potala Palace is magnificent, both in size and beauty. It's divided into two main sections, the White Palace and the Red Palace. The former was the residence of the Dalai Lamas while daily administration was carried out in the latter.
The White Palace was built in 1648 and its buildings are, as you'd expect predominantly white. The Dalai Lama's former quarters are exquisitely maintained; the tapestries and curios are placed much as they were when the Dalai Lama lived there. Apart from the residence rooms themselves, there are a number of courtyards and libraries. A huge yellow courtyard called the Deyangshar separates the White Palace from the Red.
The Red Palace forms the central section of Potala Palace. Built between 1690 and 1694, it's dedicated to prayers and religious studies. All discussion and religious debates are held here. The West Hall is dedicated to the fifth Dalai Lama and is decorated with murals depicting his life .This hall houses Saint's Chapel, considered the most sacred place in Potala Palace. In the North Chapel Sakyamuni Buddha and the 5th Dalai Lama sit on golden thrones of equal height. Padmasambhava sits in the South Chapel with his Tibetan and Indian wives beside him. The East Chapel houses Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelugpa sect. The west Chapel contains five golden stupas and the mumified body of the 5th Dalai Lama.
Potala Palace is by far the most important building in Lhasa and has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.