Located on 28 acres on Lhasa’s outskirts, Sera Monastery holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Tibetan Buddhists. With a centuries old history steeped in learning, Sera Monastery is one of the Great Three university monasteries built in the Gelug tradition, which operate as a teaching monastery.
Sera monastery is home to several thousand monks, as well as the monumental Jampa Buddha and many other statues of Buddhas and the deity Hayagriva. Apart from taking in the monastery’s distinctive architecture of whitewashed walls and colorful facades, international travelers can enjoy a firsthand experience of monastic debate, where monks engage in philosophical debate, all while stomping, clapping, and even pushing one another to make their point.
