the name of a palace in the city of Lhasa (the
capital and
religious center of
Tibet), and once
home to the
Dalai Lama, the spiritual
leader of
Tibetan Buddhism. Built on the slope of a towering
rocky hill, the Potala
rises 900 feet (274.3 m) above the city and its castlelike structure
holds more than 1,000 rooms. The
central part of the palace is
painted a deep crimson while the remaining walls are white.
an eleven-story, gilt-roofed palace in Lhasa, the
capital of
Tibet. The Potala is so large that it can be seen from miles away. It was built in the 7th century as the residence of the priest
king of
Tibet and its name means "Palace of the Gods."