Potala Palace || The Cardinal Landmark of Lhasa and of Tibet
Aptly named after Mount Potalakha, the sacred mountain abode of Compassion Boddhisatva Avalokiteshvara or Chenrizing. It is the cardinal landmark of Lhasa on the Marpo Ri (or Red Hill) with comand of view of Lhasa and beyond. It was the site of King Songtsen Gampo's palace during the mid 7th century, before the construction of present day Potala by 5th Dalai Lama in 1645.