Jokhang Temple

🌟 Barkhor Street: The Millennium-Old Pilgrimage Path Around Jokhang Temple Walking along Barkhor Street feels like every stone slab whispers tales from over 1,300 years ago. This is no ordinary commercial street but the "outer ring" of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Jokhang Temple, serving as the sacred pilgrimage route for Tibetan Buddhists for centuries. 🏰 Jokhang Temple | A Jewel of Tibetan Architecture Built in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo to enshrine the 8-year-old life-sized statue of Sakyamuni brought by Princess Bhrikuti, the temple houses three revered Buddha statues that bear witness to the glorious history of the Tibetan Empire. The most awe-inspiring is the 12-year-old life-sized statue of Sakyamuni, said to be the only statue personally consecrated by Buddha. The sight of devotees performing full-body prostrations around the temple forms the most moving landscape in Lhasa. 🛍️ Barkhor Street | The Vibrant Atmosphere of an Ancient Trade Route This circular street preserves the most complete complex of Tibetan-style buildings, with white walls, colorful windows, and gilded roofs gleaming in the sunlight. Traditional Tibetan teahouses emit the rich aroma of butter tea, while handicraft shops exude a mystical aura with their copper Buddha statues and thangka paintings. Tibetan carpet shops are highly recommended, where each handwoven wool carpet takes artisans months to complete. 🙏 Pilgrims' Footprints At dawn, Tibetan locals holding prayer wheels begin their clockwise circumambulation of Barkhor Street, their devotion evident in their three-step, one-prostration ritual. The best time to witness this is around 4-5 PM when the slanting sunlight bathes the pilgrimage path, and golden prayer wheels reflect warm rays. On this land closest to the heavens, time seems to stand still. Whether it's the focused figures of devotees turning prayer wheels or the first morning light reflecting off the temple's golden roof, one can deeply feel the power of faith and the weight of history.