Barkhor Street


Located in the old area of Lhasa City, Tibet, Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the Tibetan people are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, this street is also a must-see place for the tourists.

It's said that in 647, the first Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo (617 - 650) built the Jokhang Temple. Due to its magnificence, it quickly attracted thousands of Buddhist pilgrims. As a result, a trodden path appeared. That is the origin of Barkhor Street.

The stalls and shops around Barkhor sell a variety of goods such as prayer flags, temple bowls, bells, Buddhist statues, leather goods, clothing, incense and Tibetan rugs. Traditional Lhasa life is very much in evidence on the streets of Barkhor.

In addition to being a bustling market frequented by locals and tourists, the streets of Barkhor are also on the road to the Jokhang and the final part of many Tibetan Buddhists pilgrimages. Pilgrims with prayer wheels walk clockwise around the streets chanting prayers as they approach the end of their journey and the spiritual center of Lhasa. More devoted pilgrims prostrate themselves and drag themselves around the circuit.

For tourists, Barkhor Street is a magical place showing the original outlook of Lhasa. The street was paved by hand-polished stone boards. Though it is not broad, it accommodates thousands of tourists every day. Varied shops stand on both sides of the street and thousands of floating stands are on every corner. Most of them offer the prayer wheels, long-sleeve 'chuba' (the Tibetan people's traditional clothes), Tibetan knives and some religious articles for sale. Furthermore, some shops sell 'Thangka' (the Tibetan scroll painting), which is a unique art of Tibet with the themes of religion, history, literature, science and customs. Surprisingly, there are some articles from India and Nepal in this street as well.

Famous in Lhasa, and throughout the entire Tibetan Autonomous Region, Barkhor Street is d trading as well as religious center The goods for sale here exemplify local Tibetan culture and artefacts. From morning to evening, streams of people throng the streets, to purchase whatever they need.