Tibetan Architecture

Architecture in Tibet is a wonderful reflection of its culture. Tibetan architecture is influenced by its
geography and climate, its culture, Tibetan Buddhism, and Indian, Mongol Nepalese and Tang architectural
style.
If you travel to Tibet, you will found that the most common housing style in Tibet is white Stone tower like
military fortification. The stone towers are usually made out a mixture of rocks, wood, cement and earth for
Tibet is very rich in these materials. The house of local Tibetan usually has two floors. The lower floor is for
livestock and the upper floor is for the family. The upper floor is comprised of living rooms, storerooms and
a shrine room. When you are in Tibet, you will see prayer flags on the roof of the houses in Tibet.
Another feature of Tibetan architecture is that many of the houses and monasteries are built on elevated,
sunny sites facing the south. The roof of Tibetan houses are flat so that it is easier to remove frequent
snows. The flat roof is also built to conserve heat as little fuel is available for heat or lighting in Tibet. Each
house has many windows for letting in sunlight. The tops of the windows have an eave which is covered with
a piece of red, white and blue striped cloth. Walls are usually sloped inwards at 10 degrees as a precaution
against frequent earthquakes in the mountainous area.
In different areas, there are also some difference in housing style. The outer walls are usually painted white.
However, in some regions of Lhasa, there are also some houses painted the original yellow color of the
earth. In Shigatse, to distinguish from their Sakya Regime, some houses are painted with an under coat of
deep Russian blue with white and red stripes. Houses in Tingri County in another part of this region are
painted white, with red and black stripes around the walls and windows.
In Khampa area, wood is widely used for housing. Horizontal timber beams support the roof which in turn
are supported by wooden columns. The interior of houses are usually paneled with wood and the cabinetry is
ornately decorated. Building wooden house requires excellent skill. Carpentry is also passed from generation
to generation. However, with the increasing use of concrete structures, this skill is in a threat.
The most scientifically and aesthetically valuable Tibetan architecture is Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and
palaces. Among them, the most famous one is the Potala Palace which was designated as a World Heritage
Site in 1994 and considered as the most important example of Tibetan architecture. The palace composes of
over a thousand rooms within thirteen stories, and houses portraits of the past Dalai Lamas and statues of
the Buddha. It is divided into the outer White Palace, which serves as the administrative quarters, and the
inner Red Quarters, which houses the assembly hall of the Lamas, chapels, 10,000 shrines and a vast library
of Buddhist scriptures.
The famous temples in Tibet, Jokhang Temple in Lhasa is with a blend of Nepalese and Tang Dynasty styles;
Ramoche Temple in Lhasa was strongly influenced by Tang Dynasty architectural style; Tashilhunpo
Monastery in Shigatse was under the influence of Mongol architecture.
Other well-known tourist sites to study Tibetan architecture are Tsurphu, Trandruk, Sera, Drepung,
Norbulingka, etc. Besides, Tibetan style hotels in Lhasa are also great places to research the architecture of
Tibet, such as Dhood Gu Hotel, Kyichu Hotel, Gorka Hotel, House of Shambhala Lhasa and Yabshi
Phunkhang Heritage Hotel in Lhasa.