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Details

Distance

2 miles

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by John Maurizi

Explore a Kora around one of the largest Buddhist University's in Tibet. Enjoy the deity carvings and scent of incense as you travel the perimeter of the Monastery.

This hike was my first exposure to walking a Kora around a Monastery.  Sera Monastery is considered one of the three great monastery's, the other two being Drepung (also in Lhasa) and Ganden.  Sera is an active Gelug Unniversity which last I heard has nearly 2000 monks studying here.

The Kora starts on the outer left wall, circling clockwise.  As you start out along a dirt path you soon reach several incense stupa's which occasionally have pilgrims selling the sage to place in as an offering.  Continue to the upper corner of the wall and a series of rock outcroppings.  Turn right here and you begin to re-enter the Sera complex.  This is a rather grassy area among the rocks and I often came upon Yaks wandering around.  Along the way are many incense burners and stacked piles of Mani stones (pieces of slate with carver Buddhist prayers).

Past this point, you enter the upper building and then onto a large open area with many large Deities carved and painted into the cliffs along the way.  The detail is amazing.  Past this area and turn right again, there is not much along the outer wall.  Complete the Kora at the entrance to Sera where you started.

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