Jokhang Temple

Jokhang Temple stands at the spiritual centre of Lhasa and of Tibetan Buddhism itself. Founded in 647 AD by King Songtsen Gampo, the temple enshrines the Jowo Shakyamuni statue — a golden image of the Buddha at age 12, considered the most sacred object in Tibet. The four-storey temple blends Tibetan, Nepalese, and Tang Dynasty architectural styles, its gilded rooftop visible across the old city. Every morning hundreds of pilgrims perform kora (circumambulation) around the temple's outer circuit, spinning prayer wheels and prostrating on the flagstones. The surrounding Barkhor Square buzzes with incense smoke, butter-lamp offerings, and the murmur of devotional chanting. Entry requires the Tibet Travel Permit; photography inside the main chapel is restricted.