Getty Images

Jokhang Temple

Top choice in Lhasa

The 1300-year-old Jokhang Temple is the spiritual heart of Tibet: the continuous waves of awestruck pilgrims prostrating themselves outside are a testament to its timeless allure. The central golden Buddha image here is the most revered in all of Tibet.

The Jokhang was originally built to house an image of Buddha brought to Tibet by King Songtsen Gampo's Nepalese wife. However, another image, the Jowo Sakyamuni, was later moved here by the king's other wife (the Chinese Princess Wencheng), and it is this image that gives the Jokhang both its name and its spiritual potency: Jokhang means 'chapel of the Jowo'.

The two-storeyed Jokhang is best visited in the morning, though the crowds of yak-butter-spooning pilgrims can be thick. Access is possible in the afternoon through a side entrance, but only the ground-floor chapels can be viewed (and then only through a grille) and there are no pilgrims.

Contact

Address

Bakuo Xijie. 八廓西街

Suggest an edit to this attraction

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Main Assembly Hall
5.36 MILES
The main assembly hall, or Tsogchen, is the principal structure in the Drepung complex and is the one chapel you must not miss. The hall is reached…
Potala Palace
0.97 MILES
The magnificent Potala Palace, once the seat of the Tibetan government and the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas, is Lhasa's cardinal landmark. Your…
Sera Je College
3.17 MILES
This is the largest of Sera’s colleges, generally accessed from a western side entrance. It has a breathtaking main hall, hung with thangkas and lit by…
Tomb of Tsongkhapa
21.92 MILES
The red, fortress-like structure of Tsongkhapa’s mausoleum is probably the most impressive of the reconstructed buildings at Ganden. It’s above a…
Main Assembly Hall
3.13 MILES
The main assembly hall (Tsogchen) is the largest of Sera’s buildings and dates to 1710. The central hall is particularly impressive and is noted for its…
Assembly Hall
21.96 MILES
The recently renovated tsogchen (assembly hall) has statues of the 16 arhats (literally ‘worthy ones’) and two huge statues of Tsongkhapa (only visible…
Chagpo Ri Rock Carvings
1.52 MILES
This hidden corner of Lhasa features more than 5000 painted rock carvings that were created on the back side of Chagpo Ri over the course of a millennium…
Main Debating Courtyard
5.28 MILES
If you’re here in the afternoon, save some time to watch the monk debating (lots of shouting, hand slapping and gesticulation) between 2.30pm and 4pm in…

View more attractions

Nearby Lhasa attractions

1. Gongkar Chöde Chapel

0.06 MILES

This small Sakyapa-school chapel is up some narrow stairs above the Zhambhala Lhakhang, just off the Barkhor Circuit.

2. Zhambhala Lhakhang

0.06 MILES

This small chapel on the western side of the Meru Nyingba Monastery has a central image of Marmedze (Dipamkara), the Past Buddha, and a small inner kora…

3. Jampa Lhakhang

0.06 MILES

On the northern Barkhor Circuit, 10m down a side alley, is the entrance to the Jampa Lhakhang, on the right. The ground floor has a huge two-storey statue…

4. Meru Nyingba Monastery

0.06 MILES

This small but active monastery is a real delight and is invariably crowded with elderly Tibetans thumbing prayer beads or lazily swinging prayer wheels…

5. Barkhor Mani Lhakhang

0.07 MILES

On the northern section of the Barkhor Circuit is a small building on the right, set off from the main path. This is the Mani Lhakhang, a chapel that…

6. Gendun Choephel Memorial Hall

0.08 MILES

On the southern side of the Barkhor Circuit, this dull museum focuses on a fascinating character. Choephel (1903–51) was a monk, poet, translator,…

7. Barkhor Square

0.08 MILES

For your first visit to the Barkhor, enter from Barkhor Sq, a large plaza that was cleared in 1985. The square has been a focus for violent political…

8. Perdu Ambam Yamen

0.11 MILES

A recent addition to the northeast side of the Barkhor Circuit is the Perdu Ambam Yamen, a politicised museum firmly aimed at local Chinese consumption …

View more attractions

placement: superzone
path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],

targeting:

{
  "url": "china/tibet/lhasa/attractions/jokhang-temple/a/poi-sig/435224/356124",
  "destination": "Lhasa",
  "continent": "Asia",
  "country": "China",
  "region": "Tibet",
  "city": "Lhasa",
  "position": "superzone"
}