GELEPHU, Bhutan, October 28, 2026 — Builders in Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) will raise 108 stupas in a single day on Sunday, November 1, beginning at the auspicious hour of 3 am, eight months after His Majesty The King announced the project. Organisers estimate that more than 150,000 people will travel to Gelephu over the week, including Buddhist masters from all schools of Buddhism.
The stupas, known in Bhutan as Jangchub Chorten or “stupas of enlightenment”, are dedicated to the wellbeing of Bhutan and the world. Each stands 15 metres tall. They will be placed 108 metres apart along a corridor of about 12 kilometres on the bank of the Mao River, near Bhutan’s border with Assam, India.
Gelephu, a town of about 12,000 residents south of the capital Thimphu, is preparing for an unprecedented infl ux of visitors during the country’s peak travel season. Organisers describe the event as one of the largest gatherings of spiritual masters in recent history. Hundreds of offi cials and guests from India and elsewhere are expected to attend, along with thousands of volunteers from across Bhutan and abroad.
Project 108 is one of more than 20 spiritual projects under way in GMC. Together they refl ect the city’s intent to place wellbeing and Bhutanese values at the centre of its development, alongside economic opportunity, innovation and environmental stewardship.
His Majesty The King, Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen and Their Royal Highnesses are in Gelephu as the fi nal spiritual and structural preparations are completed.
His Holiness the Je Khenpo and monks of the dratshang (Central Monk Body) have been conducting the sidup, a ritual to cultivate spiritual energy and ward off negative forces and obstacles. The ritual is performed over the zung, the sacred internal offerings, including printed prayers and sacred objects, that will be placed inside each stupa. Builders have trained for months to assemble the stupas, work that begins at 3 am on November 1.
“This project is shaped by three forces: those who offer the stupas, those who build them, and those who witness their rising,” said Dasho Dr Lotay Tshering, Governor of GMC.
Organisers are preparing to receive volunteers and guests, including Buddhist masters and the sponsors whose offerings made the project possible.
On October 22, His Majesty The King launched yoeja.com, a digital platform that brings Yoeja, Bhutan’s centuries-old tradition of offering, online. Users can count prayers offered as aspirations for peace and wellbeing through a digital rosary, and make offerings to sustain the country’s spiritual heritage. The platform is open to users in Bhutan and will become available
internationally on November 1, during the spiritual programme.
The GMC Governor said: “Many Bhutanese still count their chants on handheld prayer beads. The platform allows prayers and shared aspirations for peace to be gathered from anywhere
in the world.” Special daily flights are being operated to and from Gelephu from this week. Gelephu lies about 250 kilometres from Thimphu. Hotels are fully booked, and tented accommodation has been set up for visitors. Health services and sanitation facilities have been expanded, additional transport services arranged, and traffic plans put in place for an estimated 46,000
vehicles.
Institutions, offices, communities and families from across the country are travelling to Gelephu to take part.
Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) will broadcast the raising live from 2 am on Sunday, November 1, the consecration ceremony on Monday, November 2, and the circumambulation
of chortens by the attendees the following day. Coverage will be available on BBS TV and on its social media channels.
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