Norbulingka Palace is the biggest man made garden in Tibet, covering 360,000 sq. m. and is situated in the west side of Lhasa, just a quick walk from Potala Palace. The name Norbulingka means Treasure Park, and inside there are more than 370 rooms. It is also known as the Summer Palace because after the 7th Dalai Lama, Dalai Lamas used to visit the palace in the summer to hold religious and government related activities. As a part of "Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace", UNESCO added Norbulingka to its list of world heritage sites.
Norbulingka is dotted with many palaces that were built by the different Dalai Lamas who spent time here. The first palace built in Norbulingka was Kelsang Potrang, which is a great example of Yellow Hat architecture. It was built by the 7th Dalai Lama and has 3 floors that contain bedrooms, reading rooms, worship halls, and even a sanctuary. Another palace built by the 8th Dalai Lama is named Tyoksil Potrang, and is the architectural wonder of Norbulingka.
The garden has become a great picnic spot for the locals and a choice venue for theaters performances, dance, and music festivals. A famous festival held here is the Sho Dun Festival, which draws crowds of locals and tourists alike.
