Chinese name: 八廓街 Bākuò Jiē or 八角街 Bājiǎo Jiē
Location: Chengguan District, Lhasa, Tibet, China; or an area of a public square and 35 backstreets around Jokhang Temple
Altitude: 3,650 m (11,975 ft)
Founder: Songtsen Gampo (from 639 to 647 AD)
Type: the holiest pilgrimage circuit and oldest street in Lhasa; the most famous bazaar and souvenir paradise in Tibet
Opening Hours & Ticket: All the day; Free Entrance
How to Get There: Bus – No. 6, 9, 25. Get off at Health Care Center Station. or by Taxi
Lying in the Lhasa Old Town, Barkhor Street or Bakuo Street, reputed as the “heart of Lhasa”, is the most famous pilgrimage circuit and bustling bazaar in Lhasa.
Originally, Barkhor Street was just the single circumanbulation around Jokhang Monastery and called as “Holy Road” by local Tibetans. But now, it has gradually expended into the large old-fashioned neighborhoods around the Jokhang Temple, consisting of Barkhor East Street, Barkhor West Street, Barkhor South Street and Barkhor North Street. With the circumference of about 1000 meters, this ring road has 35 backstreets and alleys, preserving the traditional appearance and living style of the ancient Lhasa city. Around here, you step into a time warp, catching glimpses of what life must have been like centuries or even a millennium ago.
Whenever you come, you can also encounter the devout pilgrims walking clockwise around Barkhor Kora with pray wheel spinning in hand or prostrating themselves with Buddhist mantras murmuring. Roaming around the street, you must be fascinated by the various kinds of traditional Tibetan costumes and exotic handicrafts from Nepal, India, Bhutan and surrounding countries. Besides, you can find the best Lhasa restaurants and mouthwatering food hidden in Barkhor circumanbulation, such as Makye Ame, Guangming Sweet Teahouse, and so on. By the way, apart from the prestigious Jokhang Temple, there are lots of off-the-beaten-track attractions along the Barkhor circuit, like Qing Government in Tibet Grand Minister Administrative City Former Site, Gendun Choephel Memorial Hall, etc.
To put it simply, Barkhor Street is a lively combination of local neighborhood, pilgrim circuit, marketplace, restaurants and historical sites. Please follow our in-depth guide below and make the most of Barkhor Street tour.
