Marilyn's Odyssey: Potala Palace and the Jokhang

Today, October 16th we visited a definite highlight, the Potala Palace. I myself was very nervous initially due to the fact that there are over 700 stairs to reach the destination and we are at altitude and stair climbing is not my best at sea level but off we went and I have to say I was proud of myself but glad I had my personal Sherpa. We arrived an hour before our appointed visit time and did the traditional clockwise walk around the base of the palace which is surrounded by prayer wheels where the locals go some of them several times a day. The construction of the palace started in 1645 initiatived by the 5th Dalai Lama and the Palace served as the home of all future Dalai Lamas right up to the present one when he was forced to seek excise in India in 1959 after the Chinese occupation. The Palace sits high on a hill and overlooks the city of Lhasa. It’s whitewashed Wall Ella and red accents have earned it the name of the Red Palace. It contains 1000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and over 200,000 statues. All the rooms are ornately decorated. It was probably just as well that no pictures were allowed as it was totally overwhelming to the senses. The stupa that the 5th Dalia Lama is buried in contains so much gold it is said it could build a whole new city. When the Chinese took over Tibet in the 1950’s it is said over 95% of religious buildings were destroyed. It is certainly a Tibetan treasure that the palace was spared.

After lunch we visited Jokhang which is Tibet ‘s holiest temple and contains the statue Jo Rinpoche which means Precious Lord and is believed to be the oldest and original statue of Buddha in the world dating to 563 BC. Quite something to behold. Devout Buddhists believe that coming before this statue once in their lives will bring them a good life and they will travel thousands of miles to do so some on foot.

We then spent some time in the bustling market of the Barkhor. Most of the stalls were small with everything from brightly coloured souvenirs,clothing carpets and food stalls. The meat stalls displayed all types of large slabs of meat with whole yak heads resting on the ground for sale as well. A different world.

At our briefing this evening Peter talked about some of his personal experiences including his five attempts at Everest with two assents to the peak being successful. He told us of his one attempt on K2 where he was with 7 others and as they were nearing the peak the weather turned and he made the solo decision to descend. He was the sole survivor. In 2008 he climbed Mt Dinali to complete the Seven Peaks in honour of his father who passed away earlier that year. He is an amazing man to be around. He is so down to earth and yet so inspiring. He is not full of himself and turns his accomplishments into making you think about what you want to do. He is excited to show us the highlights on this trip and to view Everest with him will make it all that more special.

Potala Palace sits high on the hill in Lhasa with hundreds of steps to reach the top

Eric ready for the step challenge

Peter Hilary and myself. So grateful that the altitude adjustment went so well

The prayer wheels went all around the base of the palace and for many locals it is a daily ritual to walk the circumference, always in a clockwise manner.

This pilgrim is going to the temple in a very traditional way. He will only take three steps before lying like a burpee. Apparently they will repeat this for hundreds of kilometres.