Surrounding the holy Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street is a must-visit attraction in the heart of Lhasa City. Known for its holy pilgrim circuit, bustling bazaar, and exotic local life, Barkhor Street offers you a heady mix of Tibetan spiritual experiences and unique Lhasa vibes waiting to be explored.

Whether you are a first-timer to Tibet or a returning traveler, Barkhor Street Market will be a magnet, alluring you to come back time after time for new discoveries. So, follow our expert guide to explore the distinctive vibes of Lhasa at the fascinating Barkhor Street.

Where Is the Barkhor Street Located? How Big Is It?

Spanning around 1km, Barkhor Street is the most famous pilgrimage and shopping path that encircles the sacred Jokhang Temple in Lhasa Chengguan District.

The circular Barkhor Street perfectly preserves the original charm of Lhasa’s old quarter. You will witness devoted pilgrims making Tibetan prostrations on stone-paved roads crafted by hand and see traditional Tibetan houses lining on both sides.

There are 35 winding alleys inside Barkhor Street to explore, packed with intriguing Buddhist and historic sites and traditional Tibetan courtyards.

On both sides of Barkhor Street, you will find numerous handicraft shops, vibrant souvenir and antique stalls, and fashion boutiques. For foodies, many local teahouses and legendary eateries will delight your taste buds.

The bustling Barkhor Street with tons of handicraft shops and Tibetan pilgrims.

Why Barkhor Street Is a Must-visit in Tibet? Historic Charm & Today’s Appeal

The historic charm of Barkhor Street dates back over 1,300 years ago when Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo initiated the construction of the sacred Jokhang Temple, Lhasa's first Buddhist temple, for his Nepali wife, Princess Bhrikuti.

Shortly after the holy Johang Temple was completed, pilgrims across Tibet began flocking to this sacred site for pilgrimage and worshipping this temple and the life-sized Sakyamuni Buddha statue enshrined within.

To meet pilgrims’ needs for food, accommodations, and daily necessities, the teeming Barkhor Street Market was born. Since then, Barkhor Street has grown into the vibrant cultural and commercial hub of Lhasa you see today. Learn the top 8 cultural experiences in Lhasa.

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Experience a palpable sense of holiness when walking the kora at Barkhor Street.

Top 1 Barkhor Street Experience: Walk the Kora with Local Pilgrims

One of the top highlights of visiting Barkhor Street is walking the kora with devoted local pilgrims.

Kora is a unique Tibetan Buddhist practice. Local Tibetans either walk on foot or prostrate themselves in a clockwise manner to circumambulate the Jokhang Temple to gain merits for the next life, spread blessings, cleanse their sins, pray for recovery from illness, or seek protection from Buddhist deities. Learn more about Mt.Kailash Kora in Tibet.

From dawn to dusk, Barkhor Street hums with the sounds of pilgrims, young and old, walking clockwise around the Jokhang Temple, chanting Buddhist mantras while spinning prayer wheels or performing full-body prostrations. Many of these pilgrims are not from Lhasa but have traveled for months from their hometowns for pilgrimage.

You can walk with local pilgrims to circumambulate the Jokhang Temple on Barkhor Street. If you would like to try fully-body prostration, our local experts can take you to the local shops to buy protective gear like aprons, and wooden hand pads and patiently demonstrate to you how to do the prostration at Barkhor Street.

Pilgrims prostrating themselves on Barkhor Street.

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Explore the teeming Barkhor Street and other Tibet's landmark attractions before heading to Tibet Everest Base Camp.

Handpick Your Favorite Tibetan Souvenirs at Barkhor Street Market

As the busiest marketplace in Lhasa, Barkhor Street is your perfect place to shop around for Tibetan souvenirs.

Every corner of Barkhor Street is filled with vibrancy, especially around the booths set by local peddlers. Shouts of street vendors, haggling bargaining of customers, chatting sounds of visitors, and chanting rhymes of pilgrims are haunting around your ears.

From hand-held Tibetan prayer wheels and butter lamps to exquisite Thangka paintings, traditional Tibetan clothes, Tibetan incense, Buddha statues, turquoise, yak jerky, etc. you have tons of options.

Besides, the Tibetan-style house ornaments including cushions, leather bags, and handmade art wares can also be found on peddler booths at Barkhor Street, which provides a wide selection for you to choose from as souvenirs. Our local experts can help you bargain with the shop owners for the best deals.

Our guests shop around at Barkhor Street.

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Savor Tibetan Sweet Tea & Local Cuisines in Local Tea Houses

Feeling hungry while exploring the Barkhor Street Market? Follow our local experts to step into one of the local Tibetan tea houses to rest your legs and enjoy a culinary adventure.

Similar to Western coffees, Tibetan sweet tea provides you with a delicate taste with a little bit of sweet flavor and milk fragrance, giving you a refreshing boost after kora and bargaining with local vendors.

You may also order tasty Thukpa, a distinctive Tibetan noodle soup, and Tibetan noodles, Tibetan momo or dumplings, and snacks like deep-fried dough sticks and chat with local Tibetans through our guides to soak up the unique leisurely vibes of Lhasa.

Guang Ming Gang Qiong Sweet Tea House and peaceful Tsamkhung Nunnery Tea House are two of the most popular local tea houses recommended at Barkhor Street.

Besides, you can also find small stalls at Barkhor Street selling scrumptious Tibetan Yogurt, another refreshing Tibetan dessert often served with a sprinkle of sugar, honey, or raisin. It’s a must-eat local delicacy during the Shoton Festival in summer in Lhasa.

Our guests enjoy Tibetan noodles and Tibetan sweet tea in local tea houses at Barkhor Street.

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Enjoy Yogurt banquet and soak up festival vibes at Barkhor Street and journey from Lhasa to Shigatse.

Explore Tromsikhang Market, the Busiest Retail Market around Barkhor Street

If you want to dive deep into local Tibetan farm produce and daily necessities consumed by local Tibetans, the famous Tromsikhang Market, the largest and best-preserved retail market next to Barkhor Street, is another must-visit.

In this massive bazaar in the old Lhasa quarter, over 10,000 products are sold here. You can buy Tibetan specialties such as Tsampa (roasted barley flour), yak butter, yak meat, cheese, organic vegetables, traditional Tibetan medicine, Tibetan handicrafts, Tibetan dress, Khampa-style hats, antiques, and anything imaginable.

If you are into making traditional Tibetan cuisines, we offer fully customizable Tibet food tours. You can follow our local experts to explore Tromsikhang Market where you will pick up fresh local ingredients, and head back to the kitchen to cook authentic Tibetan dishes with the help of our local chefs. New skills acquired to impress your families back home. Awesome!

Our guests learned to cook authentic Tibetan food with our local experts.

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Follow our local experts to cook traditional Tibetan cuisines in our Tibet food tours.

Don’t Miss the Chance to Take Photos in Tibetan Traditional Dress

Apart from exploring fashion boutiques selling Tibetan traditional dress at Barkhor Street, don’t miss out on the perfect photo opportunity to try on these exotic clothes and pose for stunning photos with locals and traditional Tibetan houses at lively Barkhor Street.

As a local Tibet travel agency, we offer your seasoned photography local guides, together with tourist-friendly make-up, styling, and photography services to help you capture your best moments at Barkhor Street and other landmark attractions in Lhasa.

Our guests take great photos in traditional Tibetan dress at Barkhor Street.

If Time Allows, Experience a Night Kora at Barkhor Street

The day before you leave Lhasa for an onward flight back home, if you have enough time and energy, it’s highly recommended to experience the night kora at Barkhor Street.

Unlike the bustling daytime, Barkhor Street at night has a serene and calming vibe. The gentle glow of streetlights reflects on the golden prayer wheels, creating a tranquil setting for the kora.

You can still see devoted pilgrims, circumambulating the Jokhang Temple clockwise. Some spin prayer wheels, chant mantras or perform full-body prostrations with unwavering faith.

The dim lights and shadowy figures of pilgrims create a mystical atmosphere perfect for capturing the essence of Tibetan spirituality through your camera.

Enjoy the Barkhor Street kora at night.

More Insider Tips for Visiting Barkhor Street

Before you begin walking the kora at Barkhor Street, you can first visit Barkhor Square right in front of the entrance of Jokhang Temple. There are four gigantic incense burners, where you can follow locals to burn juniper branches as offerings to Buddhist deities.

You may also see the Monument of the Tang-Tubo Alliance, a treaty that commemorates the alliance between the Tang Dynasty and Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in 823 BC, and the Willow Trees said to have been planted by Songtsen Gampo’s Chinese wife, Princess Wencheng.

Then, you may turn left and walk the kora in a clockwise direction at Barkhor Street around the Jokhang Temple, since it is the correct kora tradition followed by Tibetans.As you see pilgrims prostrating or chanting mantras, please respect local Tibetan practices by observing silently and maintaining a respectful distance.

If you want to take photos of prostrating pilgrims, please ask for permission first or use a telescope lens respectfully from a distance.

Apart from early morning and evening, two of the best times to visit Barkhor Street, the Saga Dawa Festival (May/June), Tsongkhapa Better Lamp Festival, and Tibetan New Year are also three of the prime times to experience fervent kora and joyous festival vibes at Barkhor Street.

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Experience fervent kora at Barkhor Street and Mt. Kailash during Saga Dawa Festival.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, Barkhor Street is more than just a pilgrim path. It is a living testament to Tibet’s spiritual heart and a cultural and commercial hub that is well worth your exploration time after time. If you have more questions about Barhhor Street Market and Tibet travel, please feel free to email us for free and expert travel solutions. Looking forward to traveling with you in Lhasa soon, Tashi Telek!