Barkhor

The Barkhorstraße is about 800 meters long Gebetsweg, which leads around the Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa.

History and significance

Barkhor means " middle circumambulation " and describes the situation of the street around the Jokhang Temple, which is located in the old area of the old town. The path is paved with hand-polished plates, is lined with well-preserved old buildings. In the shops on either side of Barkhor Street Tibetan arts and crafts products are offered. The inner circumambulation [ Nangkhor ] is located inside the Jokhang monastery and leads around the main hall, the outer circumambulation Lingkhor leads to the city of Lhasa. Especially for tourists Barkhorstraße is worth seeing, as it is an important religious and economic center.

History

The first Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo ( 617-650 ) who built the Jokhang Temple in the year 647. Due to its splendor, he quickly attracted thousands of Buddhist pilgrims, thus created a way of laying the foundation of Barkhorstraße. Many pilgrims were running and to walk clockwise around the Barkhorstraße. Thus, they developed more and more into the commercial center of the city.