POTALA LHASA, TIBET

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05929A000400080015-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 4, 2017
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: December 31, 1964
• Content Type: REPORT

lease 2007/04123 CIA-RDP78T05929A000400080015-3
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31 DECEMBER 1864 f~.~
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POTALA
LHASA, TIBET
2939N ogio6E

1- THE LHASA POTALA SERVED AS THE WINTER PALACE OF THE DALAI LAMA UNTIL
MARCH 1958, WHEN HE FLED FROM THE CHINESE COMMUNISTS AND SOUGHT
ASYLUM IN INDIA. THE POTALA IS LOCATED ON TOP OF AN ISOLATED, STEEP-
SLOPED HILL IN THE WESTERN PART OF LHASA. IT WAS BUILT NEAR THE END
OF THE 17TH CENTURY ON THE SITE OF AN EARLIER PALACE WHICH HAD BEEN
DESTROYED. THE POTALA IS A 13-STORY STRUCTURE, 440 FEET HIGH AND 900
FEET LONG. FROM THE BASE OF THE HILL, THE POTALA IS NINE HUNDRED FEET
HIGH, MAKING IT TWO THIRDS THE HEIGHT OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.
MOST OF THE WALLS ARE WHITEWASHED, BUT THEY ARE COLORED CRIMSON IN THE
UPPER CENTRAL STORIES WHERE THE CHAPELS ARE LOCATED.
HEIGHT THE POTALA DOMINATES THE ENTIRE CITY OF LIiASA.
PREPARED BY: CSD~NPIC
DISTRIBUTION:-
COPY 1 = Director~NPIC
2 = Asst for Ops
3 - Chie REF CSD
4 - DIA
5 - PID_
6 = NSB~RB~CSD
7 - Chief, RAS~CSD
FROM ITS MAJESTIC

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Approved For Release 2007/04123 CIA-RDP78T05929A000400080015-3
POTALA
LHASA, TIBET
29-39N 91-06E
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