This is from a series of films by Global Television shot all over world, giving well photographed introductions to various places, of which we will be focusing on the ones of interest to Buddhists.
The films are quite light introductions to their subjects, mainly good photography, well chosen soundtracks, and a reasonable, but sometimes inaccurate, narration giving a cultural and historical introduction to its subject.
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In this week’s episode the team visit the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, the previous winter home for the Dalai Lamas, until the annexation of Tibet by the Chinese in 1959.
The building itself must be one of the most impressive in the world, and actually consists of 13 stories and two divisions, into the white palace and the more sacred red palace.
It is the centre of pilgrimage now, but has no really religious function anymore, but rather acts as a focus for Tibetan hopes of independence, and as a sign of their previous might.