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Sera Monastery

  • As one of the three largest monasteries in Lhasa, Sera Monastery houses many vivid Buddhist statues such as Maitreya, Bodhisattvas and keeps a lot of fine murals.

Profile

  • ID : 87
  • City : Lhasa
  • English name : Sera Monastery
  • Chinese name : 色拉寺
  • Type :
  • Level : easy
  • Kids : Possible
  • Elders: Possible
  • Best season : all year round
  • Visiting length : 1-2Hours
  • Distance to city center : 5 km

Introduction of Sera Monastery

  • Sitting at the foot of Tatipu Hill, Sera Monastery is one of the three largest monasteries in Lhasa. The monastery was originally constructed by Jamchen Chojey, a disciple of Tsongkhapa in 1419 during the Ming Dynasty. Covering an area of 114,946 square meters, the main buildings include the Coqen Hall, Zhacang and Kamcun. The monastery houses many vivid Buddhist statues such as Maitreya, Bodhisattvas and keeps a lot of fine murals. The Buddhism Scriptures Debating in Sera Monastery is very famous.

Photo of Sera Monastery

  • The photo of Sera Monastery covers the image of main building, white cloud as well as blue sky.
  • Sera Monastery photo

Highlights of visiting Sera Monastery

    Statue of 12-year-old Sakyamuni, Buddha Statues, Golden Roof, Murals

Helper to visit Sera Monastery

  • Address in English : No. 1 Sera Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa City, Tibet
  • Address in Chinese : 西藏自治区拉萨市城关区色拉路1号
  • Tel : +86891-6383639
  • Post code : 850010
  • Ticket time : 9:00-16:00
  • Open time : 9:00-16:00
  • Closing time : null
  • Location : Sera Monastery is around 5 km to downtown Lhasa

    Transportation

  • Public bus: Bus20,6,16,or 23(Selasi Station)
  • Private car is the best method to visit Sera Monastery with local tour operator.

Admission

  • high season : 50 RMB/person.
  • shoulder season : 50 RMB/person.
  • low season : 50 RMB/person.

Sera Monastery Tour

Please send us an email if you can not find Sera Monastery tour you need on this page. We can tailor a private trip to Sera Monastery.

Hotel near Sera Monastery

  • 5 star/duluxe hotel
  • The St. Regis Lhasa Resort
  • InterContinental Lhasa Paradise
  • New Century Lhasa Hotel VIP Building
  • Tibet Hongshan Hotel
  • 4 star/superior hotel
  • Lhasa Thangka hotel
  • Lhasa Xinding Hotel
  • Lhasa Xueyu Tiantang International Hotel
  • Lhasa Gnagjian Hotel
  • 3 star/comfort hotel
  • Lhasa Yak Hotel
  • Lhasa Gnagjian Hotel

Restaurant near Sera Monastery

The local foods in Tibet are butter tea, roast yak meat, yoghurt and Zanba. There are some restaurants near Sera Monastery to taste these foods. There are also restaurants offering western food.
  • Main Buildings
  • Covering an area of 114,946 square meters, the main buildings include the Coqen Hall, Zhacang(Buddhist college) and Kamcun(dormitories).
  • Coqen Hall Built in 1710, the Coqen Hall is the largest hall in Sera Monastery and is the administrative center of religious affairs of the monastery. It consists of square, Sutra Hall and five Buddhist chapels. The square is about 2000 square meters. The Sutra Hall is supported by 89 long square columns and 36 short square columns. The five Buddhist chapels house the statues of Sakyamuni, Maitreya, Arhats, Tsong Khapa, and Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. The earliest sutras printed in Tibetan, Gangyur, are kept in the Coqen Hall. The golden roof on the top increases the religious atmosphere of the hall.
  • Zhacang(Buddhist college) Zhacang is the Buddhist college in Tibet, where the monks study Buddhist scriptures. There are three Zhangcang in Sera Monastery, Je Zhacang, Me Zhacang and Nagba Zhacang. Je Zhacang is the largest one, covering an area of 1702 square meters. It is a four-story building built in 1435. The Sutra Hall is supported by 100 pillars, with Thangkas, umbrella covers, curtains, and the paintings of the biographies of Sakyamuni and statues of guardians on the walls. There are Buddha Stupas and statues in the north of the hall.
    Me Zhacang was first built in 1419 and covers an area of 1620 square meters. The bronze statue of Sakyamuni is worshiped in the Sutra Hall.
    Nagba Zhacang is the early building of Sera Monastery, built in 1419 by Chosrje Shakya Yeshes. It is a Tantric Zhacang. Covering an area of 1517 square meters, it was used as the Coqen Hall of Sera Monastery at that time and changed as Zhacang after 1710. Nagba Zhacang is 3-story high and consists of the Sutra Hall and four Buddhist chapels. Murals are painted all over the walls of the Sutra Hall.
  • Kamcun(dormitories) Kamcun is the dormitory where monks living and resting. There are 32 Kamcun in Sera Monastery.

Question or Comment



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    • Buddhist Scriptures Debating
    • Buddhist Scriptures debating is a way for monks to learn Buddhist doctrines and scriptures. The monks have debates in the debate courtyard from Monday to Saturday. The activity starts on the three o'clock in the afternoon and lasts about one and a half hour. After brief opening ceremony, the debate officially began. The monks in red robes are divided into one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-one combinations. The standing monks ask questions in Tibetan and the sitting monks have to answer immediately. The debating topics involve all aspects of Tibetan Buddhism. The standing monks often use various gestures to enhance the intensity of the debate, such as clapping their hands to urge the sitting monks to answer questions as soon as possible, or pull their prayer beads to get help of the power from the Buddha. As one of the three major monasteries in Lhasa, the Buddhist Scriptures debating of Sera Monastery is absolutely unique.

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    • Sera Bengqin Festival
    • Sera Bengqin Festival, which means Vajra Blessing Festival, is an unique religious festival held in Sera Monastery. It was said that in the 15th century, a Vajra was transmitted from India. It was enshrined in the Sera Monastery after blessed by Dalai Lama in Potala Palace on the December 27 of Tibetan calendar. Since then,tens of thousands of believers come to the monastery on this day to worship the Vajra.
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