Norbulingka Palace

Address: Norbulingka Park, Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China

Hours: Daily 9am-6pm (check local sources for seasonal variations)

Norbulingka is the traditional summer palace and surrounding park of the Dalai Lamas located in western Lhasa, Tibet, established in the mid-18th century.

The complex includes multiple palace buildings, chapels and extensive gardens set across roughly 36 hectares; highlights include the main palace halls, tree-lined avenues and ceremonial lawns used for large public events. The site is often visited together with other Lhasa monuments and can take 1-2 hours to walk through the principal areas.

Construction began under the 7th Dalai Lama in the 1750s and the site was expanded by subsequent Dalai Lamas through the 18th and 19th centuries; it served as the Dalai Lamas’ summer residence until 1959. The grounds retain Tibetan-style architecture, religious chapels and later additions used for administrative and residential purposes.

Norbulingka sits in western Lhasa within the urban area of the city, a short distance west of the Potala Palace and accessible by city roads and footpaths. The site is set on relatively flat ground amid Lhasa’s urban fabric and functions as a major city park as well as a historic complex.

• UNESCO status: Part of the UNESCO-listed ‘Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace’ inscribed in 1994, often visited together with the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple.
• Best time to visit: Peak visiting times are late spring and summer when the gardens are in bloom and the annual Shoton (yogurt) festival with opera performances and thangka displays is held.

What to See#

• Norbulingka Palace: Central palace complex and main halls built as the Dalai Lamas’ summer residence, with chapels and administrative rooms dating from the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Norbulingka Gardens: Extensive landscaped gardens and parkland covering broad lawns, flowerbeds and tree-lined avenues established around the palace core and used for public ceremonies.
• Pavilions and Chapels: Smaller pavilions, chapels and service buildings scattered through the park that host occasional cultural events and display Tibetan art and textiles.

Norbulingka is west of central Lhasa and is accessible on foot or by short taxi from the Barkhor and Potala Palace areas; check local transit and entry rules before visiting.

• Visit Norbulingka early in the morning when monastic gardeners are at work and the light is soft on the palace pavilions.
• Respect photography rules-some interior spaces and religious artifacts may be restricted from photography.
• Combine the visit with a walk through Lhasa's Barkhor area to understand the palace's urban and spiritual context.