Global Treasures: Potala

Television Director: Ullman, Frank

Producer: Scarson, Peter O.

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Catalogue Number: GTR-DVD-1271

UPC: 883629689265

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Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.

The mighty Potala is one of the most amazing palaces in Asia and is located high above the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. It is the former winter residence of the Dalai Lama and is situated on Mount Marpo Ri, "Red Mountain."

Since the exile of the fourteenth Dalai Lama in 1959, the palace has not been lived in and today is more like a museum. The 13 floors of the palace complex measure 350 metres long and 117 metres high. It consists of two sections, the White Palace and the Red Palace, whose central area was mainly used for religious ceremonies.

The Dalai Lama's winter residence is situated higher than any other palace in the world, and for those who have walked the arduous ascent to the top, a fascinating insight into the past life of this revered religious leader awaits.

Fortunately, Potala is one of the few cultural monuments in Tibet that has survived China's Cultural Revolution unscathed. Yet despite the politics that engulf it, the magnificent Potala Palace is still a remarkable symbol of religious authority.