Tens of thousands build 108 Buddhist stupas for Bhutan ‘mindfulness’ city
Tens of thousands of volunteers have built 108 Buddhist stupas in Bhutan’s new Gelephu Mindfulness City, a project designed to boost the Himalayan kingdom’s economy.
The 15-metre-tall stupas, sacred Buddhist monuments, were installed on Sunday along a 12km riverbank near the Indian border at the site of the future Gelephu Mindfulness City.
More than 40,000 volunteers participated in building the structures as a physical form of prayer made permanent in stone and earth, after starting work after midnight.
About 200,000 people attended the ceremony, or nearly a fourth of the population, officials told the AFP news agency.
King’s vision for economic hub
Bhutanese leaders hope that Gelephu Mindfulness City, conceived by the king and designed by Danish architects, will boost the country’s economy and persuade more young people to stay.
The city, currently a small town with a population of about 10,000, is in southern Bhutan, along the border with India, about 240km south of Thimphu.
The king established the special zone by royal charter in 2024, saying its purpose was to create a vibrant economic hub.
Challenges and future plans
Bhutan is facing massive economic challenges, from rising unemployment and falling birth rates to the mass migration of skilled workers.
Analysts have questioned whether Bhutan can attract sufficient investment to realise its vision for the new city.
Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, head of the ports-to-power conglomerate, joined the project as a founding member in January.
The site is set to be connected to India’s rail network in neighbouring Assam, with an international airport slated to open in 2029.
The project is also linked to Bhutan’s cryptocurrency ambitions, with the kingdom mining Bitcoin using surplus hydropower and pledging to use digital assets to support the city’s development.
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