Bhutan Volunteers Complete 108 Stupas in Single Day

More than 40,000 volunteers completed the construction of 108 Buddhist stupas on Sunday in southern Bhutan. The structures were installed along 12 kilometers of riverbank near the Indian border. Officials described the effort as a physical form of prayer made permanent in stone and earth.

The stupas, which stand 15 meters tall, mark the site of the future Gelephu Mindfulness City. Work on the monuments began after midnight. The number 108 is considered sacred in Buddhism, the religion widely practiced in the Himalayan nation.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck addressed the crowd at the ceremony. He stated that he was initially worried the project might fail because of the tight timeline. The king said everything went successfully and expressed gratitude for the outcome.

Approximately 200,000 people attended the event, according to officials. That attendance figure represents nearly one-fourth of Bhutan’s total population of just under 800,000.

Gelephu is currently a small town with a population of about 10,000. It is located 240 kilometers south of the capital, Thimphu. The king established the special economic zone by royal charter in 2024. He stated the purpose was to create a vibrant economic hub.

Bhutan is facing economic pressures, including rising unemployment, falling birth rates, and the migration of skilled workers. The new city is designed by Danish architects to attract investment in sustainable business, green technology, education, tourism, and financial services. The goal is to persuade more young people to remain in the country.

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani joined the project as a founding member in January. The site will connect to India’s rail network in Assam. An international airport is scheduled to open in 2029. The project also links to Bhutan’s cryptocurrency ambitions, as the kingdom mines Bitcoin using surplus hydropower.

Nima Gyeltshen, 65, who heads the Organisation for Youth Empowerment, said the occasion would be recorded in history for generations. Bishnu Maya Moktang, a 56-year-old resident, said she hopes to live long enough to see the completed city. She noted her parents died young and never saw the project take shape.