Tibetan Buddhist architecture

Many of the houses and monasteries are typically built on elevated, sunny sites facing the south.

Flat roofs are built to conserve heat and multiple windows are constructed to let in the sunlight.

The palace is divided between the outer White Palace (which serves as the administrative quarters), and the inner Red Quarters (which houses the assembly hall of the Lamas, chapels, 10,000 shrines, and a vast library of Buddhist scriptures).

Caves were used prior to wood constructed monasteries because monks were similar to hermits and would like to be isolated.

This building technique took the abruptly ending plateau rise of mountains and dug into the steep walls to create caves.

These cave dwellings were close to trade routes were monks could get donations while practicing a semi-monastic life.