Potala Palace - White Palace

The White Palace in its present form with a fortified base was built by a large army of forced laborers for the 5th Dalai Lama in the years 1645 to 1648. Nothing remains of the older fortress which had been in existence on the fortress mountain at least since Songtsen Gampo's reign (7th C). The rooms of the White Palace are largely functional, amongst them the sleeping quarters, study and reception rooms of the Dalai Lama. There are also a monastery wing and administrative rooms. The private chambers of the 14th Dalai Lama have remained largely untouched since his flight in 1959.