Lhasa - Tibet - page 126

The first of the rooms is the Dalai Lama's audience chamber. Note the wall murals,
which depict the history of Tibet in 301 scenes that flow in rows from left to right. As you
stand with your back to the window, the murals start on the left wall with Sakyamuni and
show the mythical beginnings of the Tibetan people (from the union of a bodhisattva and a
monkey in the Sheldrak Cave), as well as the first field in Tibet (representing the introduc-
tion of agriculture). The wall in front of you depicts the building of the circular monastery
of Samye, as well as Ganden, Drepung and other monasteries to the right. The right wall
depicts the construction of the Potala and Norbulingka.
Next come the Dalai Lama's private quarters, which consist of a meditation chamber
and a bedroom. The rooms have been maintained almost exactly as the Dalai Lama left
them, and apart from the usual Buddhist images they contain the occasional surprise (a
Soviet radio, among other things).
The assembly hall, where the Dalai Lama would address heads of state, is home to a
gold throne backed by wonderful cartoon-style murals of the Dalai Lama's court (left, at
the back). Look out for British representative Hugh Richardson in a trilby hat, and several
Mongolian ambassadors. The right wall depicts the Dalai Lamas. The first five lack the
Wheel of Law, symbolising their lack of governmental authority. Last are the suites of the
Dalai Lama's mother, whose bathroom sink overflows with offerings of one-máo notes.
South of the New Summer Palace is the artificial lake commissioned by the eighth Dalai
Lama. The only pavilion open here at the time of research was the personal retreat of the
13th Dalai Lama ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) in the southwestern corner, featuring a library, a
thousand-armed Chenresig statue, and a stuffed tiger in the corner! Pilgrims walk around
the Mongolian-style cairn of stones to the left of the building. The seats overlooking the
duck pond offer a wonderful spot for a picnic.
Summer Palace of the 13th Dalai Lama PALACE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP )
The summer palace of the 13th Dalai Lama (Chensek Podrang) is in the western section of
the Norbulingka northwest of the awful zoo ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; admission ¥10) . The
ground-floor assembly hall is stuffed full of various buggies, palanquins and bicycles. The
fine murals depicting the life of Sakyamuni are hard to see without a torch.