Jokhang Temple,Lhasa

Lying at about 1,000 meters to the east of the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple is the oldest and holiest architecture in Lhasa with a long history of 1,400 years. Being the spiritual center and the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan, it has attracted many pilgrims to worship and circumambulating around.

As the existing most resplendent architecture constructed in Tubo Period (618 AD – 842 AD), Jokhang Monastery has been rebuilt and enlarged several times before taking into the shape we see nowadays. In the past centuries, it has gone through many trials and tribulations, covering itself with more legendary veils.

For every traveler to Jokhang Temple, the most scared statue of Buddha - The Jowo Shakyamuni is a must-see. Seated in the main hall in the ground floor, it’s prostrated by endless stream of devotees every day. Being the only one that has been blessed by Shakyamuni himself, the statue occupies the pride of the place.

Here are some of the top experiences you muse enjoy when visiting Jokhang Temple.

In the old town of Lhasa City there sits the most sacred Buddha temple in Tibet, The Jokhang Temple. Different from other famous monasteries like Drepung, Sera and Ganden Monasteries, Jokhang Temple, though smaller, is much older and generally considered as the most sacred and important temple in Tibet.

Worshiped by most of the pilgrims in Lhasa, Jokhang Temple boasts its reputation at home and abroad, for its unshakable spiritual position in Tibetan Buddhism and the breathtaking magnificence that never faded after centuries of time. More importantly, the life-size image of 12-year-old Jowa Sakyamuni which has increasingly become the most sacred Buddha among the pilgrims in Tibetan captures more and more visitors’ hearts, making this temple definitely a popular place to go.

Though Potala Palace enjoys great popularity among tourists, it’s the Jokhang Temple that holds the most sacred place in the mind of local Tibetans. Besides spiritual significance, its architecture is also a prominent feature for exploration. The iconic gilded rooftop, sacred Buddhist chambers and multiple construction styles all give away the holiness and uniqueness of this historic Buddhist temple.Before your actual visit, let’s learn more of Jokhang Temple’s distinct architecture and how to appreciate it when visiting.