| Located in the heart of Lhasa is the Jokhang | | | | atop the main hall. This hall is said to be 1300 |
| Temple which is considered to be one of the | | | | years old and has a pathway of lights leading up |
| most holy and sacred places of worship by the | | | | to it. The temple was looted several times by the |
| Tibetans. The temple has also been declared a | | | | Mongols yet this hall survived all the destruction. |
| world heritage site by UNESCO. It covers an area | | | | The hall is supported by many pillars that are |
| of almost 6 acres and is known for the famous | | | | decorated with various religious items. It is here |
| statue of Buddha that it houses. It also marks the | | | | that the famous Sakyamuni statue sits. The |
| advent of Buddhism in to Tibet. It was only after | | | | statue depicts the great Buddha at the age of |
| the temple was built that Buddhism grew to its | | | | twelve. There were only three statues of Buddha |
| present position in Tibet. | | | | that he allowed to be made during his life time. |
| The temple was built by the first King of Tibet | | | | These were likeliness of him at the age of eight, |
| Songtsem Gampo as premises for the Buddha | | | | twelve and then after attaining Nirvana. Since |
| statues that were bought by his Nepalese and | | | | Buddha did not believe in idol worship no more |
| Tang wives. The temple was built in 647 and had | | | | statues of him were made during his life time. |
| only eight shrines. But it has been extensively | | | | This great statue was designed by Gautam |
| renovated many a times under the Yuan, the | | | | Buddha himself. It was bought by the Tang wife |
| Ming and the Qing dynasties. | | | | of the Tibetan king. This hall is considered to be |
| The temple is mostly Timber and is divided into | | | | the most auspicious place in the entire temple and |
| four stories. The tops of the domes are golden | | | | devotee's flock here to pay homage. Many |
| while the entire temple is open air. There is a | | | | worshippers can be seen lying prostrate in front |
| central square which allows complete view of the | | | | of the statue as well as the hall. |
| entire temple. Two steles recording the alliance | | | | There are golden dragons depicted all over the |
| between Tibet and the tang dynasty and ways | | | | temple. Typical Tibetan spherical prayer bells are |
| to prevent small pox are erected on the central | | | | also found here and devotees are seen rotating |
| courtyard. The architecture of the temple is | | | | them in order to worship Buddha. Legend also has |
| essentially Tang as well as Nepalese. | | | | it that the temple was built on a lake that was |
| It is also believed that the original temple was built | | | | filled up with soil transported on sheep back. In |
| seeking inspiration from the Indian vihara design. | | | | fact the name of Lhasa is also said to be derived |
| Apart from the shrines there is are two golden | | | | from the former name of the temple which was |
| deer guarding the wheel of dharma that stand | | | | Ra-Sa-Vphrul-Snang. |