Sera Monastery is one of the ‘great three’ Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet. It is about 5 kms north of Lhasa in the hills. The monastery oversees 19 smaller hermitages (including Pobanka Monastery) and nunneries all located in the foot hills north of Lhasa. The Sera Monastery campus is a complex of structures with the Great Assembly Hall and three colleges; it was founded in 1419.
Sera Monastery in Lhasa is noted for its ‘monk debates’ on the teachings of Buddha and the philosophy of Buddhism. Sera developed over the centuries as a renowned place of scholarly learning, training hundreds of scholars, many of whom have attained fame in the Buddhist nations. Visitors are welcome to observe these lively outdoor debates.