A short arc type high pressure discharge lamp has a pair of electrodes disposed inside the lamp and facing each other, a light emitting portion encapsulating more than 0.15 mg/mm.sup.3 mercury, and sealing portions that extend to both sides of the light emitting portion, seal part of electrodes respectively, and join the electrodes and metallic foil, wherein a cross-sectional view of the metallic foil is an approximately omega shape.