The Pilgrim Kora in Lhasa, Lhasa Pilgrim circuits

Plan your Lhasa tour? You are highly recommended to feel the Tibetan Buddhist culture by performing kora together with the local pilgrims.

Pilgrim kora is a path (circuit) around a temple or a sared site which is performed by walking in a clockwise direction. Tibetan buddhists come to from all over Tibet to perform kora.

Pilgrims perform kora in the manner of chanting mantras, spinning their handheld prayer wheels or prostrating themselves aimed at increasing their suffering.

Similar to prayer flags and spinning prayer wheels, kora performing is done for the purpose of having a peaceful life and happy afterlife.

In Lhasa, there are four major kora (cirsuits) – Inner Kora, Middle Kora, Outer Kora and Potala Palace Kora. The Inner Kora refers to the circuit inside Jokhang Temple; Middle Kora is the path around the exterior of Jokhang Temple; Outer Kora is known as the Lingkhor Circuit, the longest kora in Lhasa and walking around Lingkhor Kora takes about 2 and half hours; Potala Palace Kora refers to the path around Potala Palace taking 40 minutes for one circle walking.

Hassle-free Lhasa Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Lhasa:

Further Readings