Tsurphu Temple & Barkhor Square

The next morning, we got up long before sunrise to take photos of the pilgrims at Barkhor Square in the cold — a start wild and determined, a contrast between frost and devotion. After breakfast, we took a day trip outside of Lhasa to the Tsurphu Temple, about an hour’s drive away, beautifully situated in the mountains, raw and majestic.

Discoveries Around the Temple

The temple was, as expected, impressive, but since it wasn’t very large, we also explored the surrounding area — a spectacle of nature and architecture. Back in Lhasa in the early afternoon, we walked several rounds again around Barkhor Square before finding a small restaurant in a side street that soon became our regular spot — the yak steaks there were divine, even if the mild beer taste was a bit distracting.