Palace of the Panchen Lama

Outer gate to the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas	The Palace of the Panchen Lama was added to my itinerary after my complaints to Beijing	I had gotten tired of the guide telling me we couldn't go to places "not on the itinerary" since this was a private tour for 1	Here at the Palace of the Panchen Lama in Shigatse, I was the only foreign tourist joining Tibetan women on a tour
The guide and driver had never been here	Snow Lions guarding the gate	Courtyard with the inner gate to the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas	Garden of the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas
The Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas was built in 1844 for the 7th Panchen Lama	Great Hall of the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas completely covered in murals	Mural on the south wall of the Great Hall of the Palace of the Panchen Lamas	Great Hall of the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas
Great Hall of the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas from the main entrance	Ceiling of the Great Hall of the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas	Dragon holding up the chandalier	The sumptuous interior has been restored and only recently opened to tourists
Chandalier in the great hall	Great Hall of the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas	Mural depicting the Heavenly King of the North mounted on a blue horse	Battle scene, part of the extensive murals of the Great Hall of the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas
Mural detail of a butchering scene	Mural, Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas, Shigatse	Part of a battle large battle scene	Circular mural with 8 quardants, Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas, Shigatse
Center of the circular mural, something other than the Wheel of Life I believe	Amazing color and details on all the murals in the Great Hall	Mural, Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas, Shigatse	Demons torturing a woman
Allegory to speak the truth, lest your tongue be plowed	White elephant pushing the dammed over a waterfall	Circular mural with 4 quarters	The top quarter showing monastic buildings
The bottom quarter with a beautiful mandala painting	These could be used in a Christian depiction of Judgement Day	Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas	Chinese Zodiac
Colored glass windows of the Great Hall	Pillars holding up the balcony above the Great Hall	Main hallway on the ground floor of the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas, Shigatse	Ceiling of the main hallway of the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas
Ceiling of the main hallway of the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas	Heavenly King of the East	Heavenly King of the North	Heavenly King of the South
Large Buddha surrounded by dozens of small Buddhas in the main hallway	Hayagriva	Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas	Western facade of the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas
Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas	Garden behind the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas