In the northern suburbs of Lhasa towers the strangely shaped Serawoze Mountain. Sera Monastery lies on the southern slope of this mountain. Covering an area of 114,960 square meters, the monastery is comprised of Coqen Hall, three Zhacang dormitories for monks called Gyi, Mei and Ngaba, and some 30 Kangcun dorms for monks. The area is a Buddhist Mecca and also a favorite scenic spot in Lhasa.

The monastery was built by Sagya Yexei, disciple of Master Zongkapa, in 1419. On behalf of his master, Sagya Yexei went to Nanjing to pay homage to the Ming Dynasty Yongle emperor, who granted him the honorific title "Western Paradise Buddha Grand State Tutor," and a large number of sutras, Buddhist statues, monks robes, silks, gold and silver, which were used to build Sera Monastery.

Coqen Hall lies in the northeastern section of the monastery. It is four storeys high and is composed of a square, a Grand Sutra Hall and five Buddha Halls. The main statue at the monastery is that of the Qamba Buddha (Maitreya) which is six meters in height. In the western section is the Arhats Hall which holds 16 arhats each containing a carved wooden statue of arhat Sagya Yexei had taken to Tibet from China. In the east is the Hall of the Diamond Deity, and in the Yongle edition of the Tripitaka. This was the first woodblock printed sutra producted in China and it was presented to the monastery by Ming Dynasty Emperor Chengzu. The Gyi Zhacang rises four storeys in height. The Buddhist Guardian Hall holds the statue of the Horse-Headed Vajra (Dainzin), the most famous of its kind in Tibet. The Mei Zhacang is smaller than the Gyi Zhacang. The statue of Tuwo, a Buddhist guardian, is much revered because of its awesome appearance.

Since ancient times, Living Buddhas and monks have taught the Buddhist doctrines in the area surrounding Sera. Dotted with willow trees, it is also home to many small monasteries and nunneries, including Purbujor Monastery, Myiqoinre Nunnery, Zhachi Holy Maid Monastery, the Kardoreqoi mediation area, and the Balungreqoi to the east and south; Barku Monastery, Gungbasa Monastery, Pobengang Monastery, Zhaxiqoilin Monastery, Qoisang Monastery and Garil Nunnery to the west; and Zhukangreqoi and Seraqoiding monasteries to the rear.