The Tibetan quarter lies in the eastern part of the city, centered on the Jokhang Temple (built around 700 CE), in the Barkhor district.
Barkhor
This district is defined by the Kora, the ritual clockwise circumambulation route around the Jokhang Temple. Although heavily geared toward tourism today, the Kora remains above all a place of pilgrimage and prayer for Tibetans. Its paved lanes, lined with traditional Tibetan houses, are packed with stalls selling everything from souvenirs to butter tea and textiles. Barkhor is also home to a Muslim quarter with Muslim restaurants and a mosque.
Jokhang Temple
The Jokhang is Tibet's holiest temple and spiritual center. It was built in the 7th century to mark the marriage of King Songtsen Gampo to the Nepalese princess Bhrikuti. Its exact site was chosen by another of the king's wives, the Chinese princess Wencheng, who believed a powerful female demon needed to be subdued there. Unlike the Potala, the Jokhang still hosts active prayer ceremonies by Tibetan monks today. Its golden roofs offer an excellent viewpoint over the city.
Potala Palace
Alongside Mount Everest, the Potala Palace is probably Tibet's most recognizable landmark, towering above Lhasa atop Marpo Ri (Red Hill). The building spans 13 stories and more than 1,000 rooms, built and expanded over several centuries into what is now known as the White Palace and the Red Palace. Once the political and religious center of Tibet, the Potala today serves mainly as a museum, though major political and religious ceremonies are still occasionally held there.
