The 1,300-year-old Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, has had its annual facelift. Workers and local volunteers have whitewashed the exterior of the landmark.
The 1,300-year-old Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, has had its annual facelift.
Inside the red and white Potala Palace, the jewel of Lhasa, the smell of incense, the narrow passageways, and the rows and rows of ancient scriptures stacked on the walls transport visitors to a different era.
The Potala Palace was built by Tibetan King Songtsa Gambo in the seventh century and expanded in the 17th century. It receives hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and gets a renovation annually. This year, the repainting started 10 days earlier than usual because of low temperatures.
“We are afraid that our craft will be affected if the temperature drops below zero degrees. After being frozen, the surface will crack when the sun comes out. So advancing the schedule is mainly for the painting,” said Dawa, Chief of Digital Center, Potala Palace.
The 1,300-year-old Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, has had its annual facelift.
The whitewash used is concocted using a traditional formula of milk, honey, sugar and lime, which has a distinctive sweet smell. Painting of buildings on a regular basis is common in Tibet and a necessary protection against extremes of weather.
“Ancient structures are built from the earth, stone and wood. If we paint it well, the cracks among the stones, if there are any, will be covered. Once the cracks are covered, the paint will serve as protection from rainwater, which in turn protects the architecture,” said Dawa.
The painting of the UNESCO World Heritage Site is in preparation for “Lhabab Duchen,” which falls on Nov. 20 this year.
“Lhabab Duchen” is believed to be the day the Buddha descended from the heavens and is one of four annual festivals celebrating important events in his life.
