Kora སྐོར་བ། means circumambulation in Tibetan. Kora is both a type of pilgrimage and a type of meditative practice. Tibetans travel to many holy places and walk clockwise around the sites.
Kora is a huge part of Tibetan Buddhist traditions and an integral part of any Tibetan Buddhist’s life. Buddhists believe that the steps taken on the kora around a sacred site give them merits on their journey towards enlightenment, it purifies their negative karma and shields them from misfortune.
One of the holiest sites in Tibet is the Jokhang Temple that sits in the center of old Lhasa in the Barkhor neighborhood and the kora around this temple is considered one of the holiest.
The Barkhor – recreated in our drawing above- is a fascinating labyrinth of tiny streets and alleyways, old stone houses with trapezoidal shapes, markets, café, shops, and galleries. Even today, with all the modernization and changes, the Barkhor is where you can feel the heart and soul of Tibet.