A Place in Pop Culture: Lhasa’s Inspiring and Iconic Potala Palace

Even Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig have traveled to Potala Palace in Lhasa

The Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet was the winter residence of the Dalai Lama from the 7th century until 1959, and has been a museum and World Heritage Site since then. 

It’s a 1,300-year-old dzong fortress that sits over 12,000 feet above sea level, making it the world’s highest palace and a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism and the region’s traditional administration.

Lost Horizon (Macmillan, 1933)

James Hilton‘s fictional setting of Shangri-La is not directly based on the Potala Palace, however its depiction of a remote, mystical monastery in the Himalayas is often compared to the Potala.

Bugs Bunny’s Dangerous Venture (1946)

Bugs Bunny‘s popularity soared during World War II because of his free and easy attitude and he began receiving special star billing in his cartoons by 1943.

After the war, Bugs and Porky Pig start a messenger service and a mysterious stranger ask them to deliver a package to “Omi-Akin-Bak” at the “Ritzmore Hotel.”

Bugs and Porky take the package to the hotel, only to find that Mr. Bak has checked out and returned to his home in “Shangreet-Lo” in the “Forbidden Mountains of Tibet.” They then set out to deliver the package to him there, arriving at Potala Palace.

Seven Years in Tibet (Sony, 1997)

With music composed by John Williams and a feature performance by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Brad Pitt stars in Seven Years in Tibet (1997), portraying an Austrian mountaineer with German citizenship imprisoned by the Allies at the start of World War II.

He escapes his Himalayan prison in British India and crosses over to Tibet. In Lhasa he becomes tutor to the young Dalai Lama, teaching him in Potala Palace (Until the Communist takeover; the mountaineer eventual returns home while His Holiness treks across the mountains to freedom in India a decade later.)

Kundun (Disney, 1997)

Directed by Martin Scorsese, Kundun (title similar in meaning to “His Holiness”) is based on the life and writings of the 14th (today’s) Dalai Lama and depicts His Holiness at several stages of his youth in Lhasa, Tibet living in Potala Palace. This film covers the Dalai Lama from being identified as a toddler to fleeing the People’s Liberation Army across the mountains to India.

The Golden Child (Paramount, 1986)

Starring Eddie Murphy, this fantasy comedy film features the Potala Palace in its story line, adding an exotic element to the otherwise banal plot.

Video Games and Album Covers

In addition, The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes (1999), a novel by Jamyang Norbu, incorporates Potala Palace as part of its Tibetan setting, weaving it into the adventures of the great detective. Finally, video games such as “Tomb Raider II” (1997) and “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” (2009) feature levels set in Tibet, with the Potala Palace serving as an inspiration for some of the in-game environments, or include sets in a Tibetan village with architecture inspired by Potala Palace.

The Potala Palace is a frequent subject in documentaries and photography books about Tibet, Buddhism, and world heritage sites. It is often depicted as a symbol of Tibetan culture and spirituality. Some music albums, particularly those with themes of spirituality or world music, have featured Potala Palace on their covers or in their artwork to evoke a sense of mysticism and cultural depth.

These portrayals in popular culture help to highlight the Potala Palace’s iconic status and its significance as a symbol of Tibetan heritage.

A Place in Pop Culture: Lhasa’s Inspiring and Iconic Potala Palace (June 22, 2023)