Bhutan's New Economic Hub: 108 Stupas Raised in One Day

Volunteers in Bhutan assembled 108 sacred stupas along a river in the southern town of Gelephu on Sunday.

The structures, which stand approximately 50 feet tall and are spaced 354 feet apart, form a linear procession along the Mao Chhu river. The number 108 holds specific spiritual weight in Buddhism, the state religion of Bhutan.

The project anchors Gelephu Mindfulness City, a development conceived by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and designed by Danish architects. The city is positioned as an economic zone that prioritizes ecological sustainability and citizen happiness over commercial profit.

Gelephu is located on Bhutan's border with India, roughly 150 miles south of the capital, Thimphu. The town currently has a population of about 10,000. Bhutanese authorities are developing the site to address rising unemployment, falling birth rates, and the emigration of skilled workers.

Officials stated that the city aims to provide economic opportunities to encourage young Bhutanese to remain in the country. The design integrates the nation's Gross National Happiness framework, which values collective well-being and peace over pure economic growth.

About 40,000 volunteers completed the external structures of the stupas on Sunday. Construction began at 2 a.m. and concluded at 2 p.m., finishing approximately four hours ahead of the scheduled time. Workers assembled prefabricated pieces to erect the monuments.

The stupas are known as Jangchub Chortens in Vajrayana Buddhism, a branch of the faith that emerged in India between the 5th and 7th centuries B.C. Bhutan has maintained a chorten tradition for more than 2,500 years, with early structures built to enshrine Buddha relics.

Project officials said the sealed structures will be filled with prayers, blessings, relics, and spiritual texts. A statement described the building process as a collective offering to the world, noting that constructing a chorten is a meritorious act in the Buddhist tradition.

Approximately 200,000 people from various countries attended the event. Kinley Dorji, a spokesperson for Gelephu Mindfulness City, said the gathering was a historic and spiritual moment. He noted that the site is located where the plains of India rise into the Himalayas.

The Venerable Pannakara, a Theravada Buddhist monk, attended the consecration. Earlier this year, he completed a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. Pannakara documented the construction, noting the scale of the volunteer effort and the international presence.