Volunteers raise 108 stupas at site of Bhutan's planned Gelephu Mindfulness City

Volunteers raised 108 Buddhist stupas on Sunday at the site of Gelephu Mindfulness City, a planned development in Bhutan. The stupas are 15 metres tall. They stand along 12 km (7.5 miles) of riverbank near the border with India.

Officials said more than 40,000 volunteers took part and that work began after midnight. The project is described as aimed at driving economic growth.

Officials told AFP that about 200,000 people attended the ceremony, according to Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera describes this as nearly a fourth of Bhutan's population, which is just under 800,000. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not name the officials who gave the volunteer and attendance figures. They do not include any independent count of either.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck spoke at the ceremony, according to Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera quoted him as saying: "I was worried that raising 108 stupas in a single day might not succeed," and "But everything went successfully, and for that, I am truly grateful."

Background

According to Al Jazeera, the king conceived the city, Danish architects designed it, and the king established the special zone by royal charter in 2024. The site is now a small town of about 10,000 people, about 240 km (150 miles) south of the capital, Thimphu.

Al Jazeera reports that Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, head of a 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. An international airport is slated to open in 2029.

The project is also linked to Bhutan's cryptocurrency ambitions, according to Al Jazeera. The kingdom mines Bitcoin using surplus hydropower and has pledged to use digital assets to support the city's development. Bhutan faces rising unemployment, falling birth rates and the emigration of skilled workers. The reports do not describe the city's overall budget or funding structure.

What each side says

Bhutanese officials said the stupas were built as "a physical form of prayer made permanent in stone and earth". According to Al Jazeera, leaders hope the city will boost the economy, persuade more young people to stay, and attract investment in sustainable business, green technology, education, tourism and financial services. When establishing the zone, the king said its purpose was to "create a vibrant economic hub".

Unnamed analysts have questioned whether Bhutan can attract enough investment to realise its vision, Al Jazeera reports. The reports do not set out their specific concerns.

Al Jazeera quoted Nima Gyeltshen, 65, head of the Organisation for Youth Empowerment, as saying: "This occasion will be recorded in our history for generations to come." Resident Bishnu Maya Moktang, 56, told AFP, according to Al Jazeera: "I hope to live long enough to see it."

Al Jazeera and the South China Morning Post carry near-identical accounts. Al Jazeera credits AFP. Both appear to rely on the same wire report citing Bhutanese officials.

Analysis

The ceremony shows the scale of public mobilisation behind Gelephu Mindfulness City. The project's economic outcome is a separate question. Supporters see it as a way to create jobs and slow the emigration of skilled workers. Unnamed analysts doubt that enough investment will come. Several factors could shape the result: the planned rail link to Assam, the airport slated for 2029, Gautam Adani's role and the pledge to use digital assets. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not give costs or funding details. Clearer figures would help observers judge whether the vision is feasible. The project could attract investment, advance slowly or be scaled back.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.