The Potala sits on top of Marpo Ri Hill it looked a long way up to the entrance and we had to be there promptly at 9.20am and out again one hour later.  

Several years ago there were 1500 people a day entering the palace.  With these numbers the clay and timber structure was in grave danger of collapse.

Twin ramps and flights of stairs brought us to the entrances,  We used the one on the opposite side

We arrived at our entrance point at exactly the time on our tickets. 

Numbers are now  strictly limited to 50 visitors every twenty minutes between 9.00am and 1.00pm and 50 visitors ever thirty minutes for a further 2 .5 hours in the afternoon.   For a maximum of 850 per day.