CHINA. Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

One of the places I've been dreaming of since my childhood! I am quite, quite certain that my idealistic dreams created while listening to traditional chants of Tibetan monks, wouldn't have much in common with the reality. And yet...isn't it a magical place? The sight of the majestic palace topped over the valley, encircled by high mountains, always gives me the goose-bumps! Posting this postcard with the wish to see it one day.
And yes - thanks to my great swapping friend Cynthia from China!
2 of 45 in China

 

Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa

The Potala Palace, winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century, symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration of Tibet. The complex, comprising the White and Red Palaces with their ancillary buildings, is built on Red Mountain in the centre of Lhasa Valley, at an altitude of 3,700m. Also founded in the 7th century, the Jokhang Temple Monastery is an exceptional Buddhist religious complex. Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama's former summer palace, constructed in the 18th century, is a masterpiece of Tibetan art. The beauty and originality of the architecture of these three sites, their rich ornamentation and harmonious integration in a striking landscape, add to their historic and religious interest.