Jokhang Temple

April to October are the best months to visit the Jokhang temple since the weather is pleasantly mild during this period. Harsh weather conditions occur during the later months. In addition, if you want to avoid the crowd and want to save money, winter months are the best times of the seasons to make a visit.

The Jokhan Temple, which means ‘House of the Lord’, is the holiest site in Tibet and is a primary destination for monks. The temple was built in 746 by King Songtsen Gampo. Moreover, the present structure is the result of a reconstruction done by the fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th century.

Nepalese and Indian architectural influences are prevalent in the Jokhang temple. The temple features a golden roof with wood patterns and carvings.

The thousand meter long Tibetan mural is a must see when visiting the Jokhang Temple. It has a depiction of Princess Wen Cheng’s procession and arrival in Tibet. Precious cultural relics are also being kept and preserved in the temple which make it a good place for research about Tibetan culture and history.

Jokhang temple’s most prized and oldest object that sits in the central hall is the statue of twelve year old Sakyamuni. The sculpture was carried by Princess Wen Cheng herself. The statue of Sakyamuni is gilded and adorned with precious jewels.

Lhasa’s weather is humid, visitors are advised to wear light clothing. Caution is advised by bringing extra clothes in the event of a sudden downpour, which sometimes occurs during the day. Bringing enough cash for the trip is also advisable since ATMs are quite hard to find in Tibet. Visiting on festival days is recommended. This allows a visitor to be immersed in the Tibetan festivities and experience more of their culture.

Jokhang Temple