Potala Palace

The Potala Palace is the most iconic symbol of Tibet, a towering whitewashed fortress-monastery perched atop Marpo Ri ("Red Hill") at an elevation of 3,700 metres. Built in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo and vastly expanded by the Fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th century, the complex contains over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, and 200,000 statues. The White Palace served as the administrative seat of the Tibetan government, while the Red Palace houses the tombs of eight Dalai Lamas sheathed in gold and encrusted with jewels. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, it remains the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Visitors must obtain a timed permit in advance; altitude acclimatisation of at least one day is strongly recommended before climbing the long stairways to the entrance.