Which Tibetan palace in Lhasa was the winter home of the Dalai Lama?

The Tibetan palace in Lhasa that served as the Dalai Lama’s winter home was the Potala Palace. Built on Marpo Ri, or Red Hill, it became both a religious centre and the seat of Tibet’s government.

The palace complex has two visually distinct sections. The White Palace contained living and administrative spaces, while the Red Palace housed chapels, shrines, and the tomb stupas of several Dalai Lamas. Construction began under the Fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th century, and major additions continued after his death.

The Potala was used as the Dalai Lamas’ residence from 1649 until 1959. It was specifically associated with winter residence; the Dalai Lamas traditionally spent summers at Norbulingka, another major palace and garden complex in Lhasa. That seasonal distinction is a common source of confusion in questions about Tibetan royal and religious sites.

Drepung Monastery was an important monastic institution and former residence of the Dalai Lama before the Potala era. Jokhang Temple is one of Tibet’s holiest Buddhist temples, but it was not the Dalai Lama’s winter palace.