Norbulingka

Lhasa


About 3km west of the Potala Palace is the Norbulingka, the former summer residence of the Dalai Lama. The lifeless temple-like buildings rank well behind the other points of interest in and around Lhasa, since most rooms are closed to the public.

The pleasant park contains several palaces and chapels, the highlight of which is the New Summer Palace, built by the current (14th) Dalai Lama. It's debatable whether it's worth the entry fee.

The park is a great place to be during festival times and public holidays. In the seventh lunar month of every year, the Norbulingka is crowded with picnickers for the week of the Shötun festival, when traditional lhamo (Tibetan opera) performances are held here.

As you leave the palace after your visit, pop into the charming yellow-walled mani lhakhang to the south of the Norbulingka entrance.


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Nearby Lhasa attractions

1. Norbulingka Mani Lhakhang

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This charming yellow-walled mani lhakhang (prayer-wheel chapel) is south of the Norbulingka entrance.

2. Palace of the Eighth Dalai Lama

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This palace (also named the Kelsang Podrang, after the seventh Dalai Lama) is the first you come to after entering the Norbulingka grounds and also the…

3. Retreat of the 13th Dalai Lama

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South of the New Summer Palace is an artificial lake commissioned by the eighth Dalai Lama. The only pavilion open here at the time of research was the…

4. New Summer Palace

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The New Summer Palace in the centre of the Norbulingka's park was built by the present Dalai Lama between 1954 and 1956 and is the most interesting of the…

5. Summer Palace of the 13th Dalai Lama

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The summer palace of the 13th Dalai Lama (Chensek Podrang) is in the western section of the Norbulingka. The ground-floor assembly hall is stuffed full of…

6. Chagpo Ri Rock Carvings

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This hidden corner of Lhasa features more than 5000 painted rock carvings that were created on the back side of Chagpo Ri over the course of a millennium…

7. Kunde Ling

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At the foot of the hill Parma Ri, close to Beijing Zhonglu, is one of Lhasa’s four former royal temples. The ling (royal) temples were established by the…

8. Gesar Ling

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On the northern side of the small hill Parma Ri is the Gesar Ling, a Chinese construction dating back to 1793. It is the only Chinese-style temple in…