Dzong Gya Lukhang

Overview

In the 17^th century, during the expansion of the Potala Palace, extensive soil extraction in this area resulted in the formation of a pond.

During the time of the Sixth Dalai Lama, the area was renovated. A pavilion was built on the small island in the pond according to the mandala in Tibetan Buddhism, and a five-arched stone bridge over 3 meters wide and 20 meters long was constructed to connect the island to the outside.

The three-story pavilion on the island has a fully symmetrical cross-shaped shrine on the first and second floors, primarily dedicated to the Naga deity. It also houses the goddess Mozhug Saichin, who was said to be invited by the Sixth Dalai Lama from Mozhugongka, as well as the treasure vase mandala and many guardian deities.

Around the shrine, there is a gallery for viewing the scenery; the top floor of the pavilion is a hexagonal small hall with intricate wooden brackets supporting the eaves and a hexagonal pyramidal roof.

After its completion, the area became a restricted garden, a place where only a few monks and aristocrats from Lhasa could enjoy boating. It was generally off-limits to others.

The area was also renovated and maintained under the auspices of the Eighth and Thirteenth Dalai Lamas.

On the fifteenth day of the fourth month in the Tibetan calendar, during the Saga Dawa festival, people come to the shrine to worship the goddess Mozhug Saichin, offer khatas, make offerings, and light butter lamps.

After 1959, the area was opened to the public as a park. Initially, it was filled with shops and teahouses, and people could feed fish by the lake. Later, it was turned into a closed park.

Due to urban road construction needs, in 1965, two stone steles and their pavilions, originally located in front of the Potala Palace, were moved here.

One is the Kangxi Emperor’s “Imperial Edict Stele for the Pacification of Tibet,” which primarily records the events surrounding the suppression of the Dzungar rebellion in the sixtieth year of Kangxi’s reign; it was moved to the right side of the park’s entrance.

The other is the Qianlong Emperor’s “Imperial Edict Stele of the Ten Achievements,” which details the expedition led by General Fuk’anggan in the fifty-seventh year of Qianlong’s reign (1792) to expel the Gorkha invaders from Tibet; it was moved to the left side of the park’s entrance.

These two steles were relocated back to the expanded Potala Palace in 1990 and placed on either side of the main entrance.

From a bird’s eye view to the north of the Potala Palace, the lake at the lower right is Dzong Gya Lukhang Park.

Chojor Lake is the main lake within Dzong Gya Lukhang Park. It is an artificial lake.

Its water originally seeped from underground, maintaining a stable level, typically around 1.5 meters deep except during rainy days when the water level rises.

Later, the lake’s water supply was changed to artificial means.

Current Status

After Dzong Gya Lukhang was turned into a closed park, it had a small amusement park. Although it had few attractions, it was very popular with children as there were no other amusement parks in Lhasa at the time.

When the amusement facilities at Potala Palace Square were dismantled due to the square’s expansion, Dzong Gya Lukhang’s amusement park became the only one for children in Lhasa.

The park’s attractions evolved from simple exercise equipment to bumper cars, space shuttles, go-karts, a mad mouse ride, and pirate ships, all of which provided wonderful childhood memories for the children of Lhasa.

Later, these amusement facilities were moved to “Venus Amusement Park,” and Dzong Gya Lukhang no longer had any amusement rides.

Today, Dzong Gya Lukhang is an open park, a place for Lhasa residents to exercise and relax daily, and the nearest spot for circumambulation around the Potala Palace.

In 2006, a comprehensive renovation of Dzong Gya Lukhang Park took place. The redesign aimed to promote harmonious urban development, protect cultural relics, and boost urban tourism. The renovation divided the park into five themed areas: Folk Activity Zone, Ecological Water Scene Zone, Dragon Pond Scenic Zone, Waterside Activity Zone, and Cultural Activity Zone.

In the ancient forest on the south side of the renovated Dzong Gya Lukhang Park, a gravel path called the “Forest Khata” was created, featuring natural rocks and stone tables for visitors to relax and converse.

The southwest corner of the park is the Folk Activity Zone, with a hexagonal pavilion at its highest point. Surrounding this pavilion is a circular plaza, from which a gently sloping open area and another circular waterside plaza can be seen through the trees. A wooden arch bridge connects the circular plaza with a path in the grassy slope area.

Next to the plaza, a 30-meter-high columnar fountain serves as a landmark. In the northeast corner of the park, a circular forest plaza is planned.

The Ecological Water Scene Zone expanded the existing water area, and a “Peach and Willow Heralding Spring” themed island was created at the site of the original hexagonal pavilion, connected to the shore by two small arch bridges.

Improvements were made to the water surface and shoreline vegetation, with designs for waterside boardwalks, natural revetments, and pebble beaches, and highland aquatic plants were added to create an ecological water scene within the park.

Opposite the water island, a performance plaza was designed, offering a view of the Potala Palace’s reflection in the water.

Demon Subduing Stupa

Not far from the lake is a grove of ancient willow trees, each with a unique shape, some leaning or twisting. These willows are said to be known as “Kangding Willows.”

The Demon Subduing Stupa consists of three white stupas located in the eastern part of Dzong Gya Lukhang Park, behind the Potala Palace.

In front of the three stupas is a row of prayer wheels. From Chaggo Kaling, if you walk north along the western wall of the Potala Palace and spin the countless prayer wheels along the way, you will reach this spot.

The Demon Subduing Stupa was rebuilt in the 1990s.