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India

Sera Monastery

Karnataka (near Mysuru), India
Altitude
800 m
Best time
October – March
Temperature
15°C – 32°C
Country
India

About this sacred site

Sera Monastery at Bylakuppe in Karnataka is the largest Tibetan monastery in exile and one of the three great Gelug monastic universities, reconstructed after the destruction of the original Sera in Lhasa. Over 5,000 monks live and study here, and the sound of daily debate in the monastery courtyards — monks clapping as they challenge each other with logical puzzles — is one of the most extraordinary sounds in the Buddhist world. Bylakuppe itself is the largest Tibetan settlement in India outside Dharamsala and has over a dozen monasteries from various traditions. The area is called “Mini Tibet” and visiting gives a vivid sense of the living culture that was displaced from Tibet. The Namdroling Nyingma monastery nearby is famous for its stunning Golden Temple.

When to visit

Spring
18-34°C
Possible · Now
Summer
22-30°C
Possible
Autumn
18-30°C
✓ Ideal
Winter
12-28°C
✓ Ideal

Getting there

1
Fly or train to Mysuru (Mysore) — 35km from Bylakuppe. Train from Bangalore (~3hrs).
2
Taxi from Mysuru to Bylakuppe/Sera (35km, 45min). Buses also run from Mysuru bus stand.
3
Debate sessions: Mon–Sat, ~3-5pm — the most extraordinary thing to witness. Check schedule on arrival.

Nearby Buddhist sites

Location

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