The Barkhor and Jokhang Temple

The Jokhang Temple

The Jokhang Temple is the most revered temple in Tibet, the spiritual centre dating back to about 639AD. The Jowo Sakyamuni Buddha image remains in Jokhang despite of years of desecration by the Chinese in the 1950 - 1970's. Restored since 1980, it is a great experience to visit amid the smell of yak butter lamps, prostrating pilgrims and a deep feeling of its age! A truly Tibetan experience.





The Barkhor is the Kora, or spiritual walk around the Jokhang temple, which takes one clockwise about an hour. It is lined with more shops than I can remember from a visit in 2006, and is the commercial district for Tibetans and tourists.


The Barkhor Square is a large plaza in front of the Jokhang which used to be heavily policed and observed with many cameras, but now secured by an entrance gate where your bags are scanned prior to entry, presumably to control entry and any protests.



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