Thousands build 108 Buddhist stupas for Bhutan’s ‘mindfulness’ city

Tens of thousands of volunteers gathered in Bhutan on Sunday to construct 108 Buddhist stupas, part of the country's plan to build a "mindfulness" city that aims to boost its economy and attract investment. The 15-meter tall solid towers, found across the Himalayas, will line a 12km stretch of riverbank near the Indian border. The site, designated as the Gelephu Mindfulness City, is expected to support sustainable business, green technology, education, tourism, and financial services.

Over 40,000 volunteers participated in the construction, starting work late at night. The city, a vision of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, was established by royal charter in 2024. Its purpose is to create a vibrant economic hub and address Bhutan's challenges of a declining birthrate and a loss of young people seeking opportunities abroad.

The 108 stupas, each with significant importance in Buddhist traditions, are estimated to be more than 10 times the height of Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza. The project, which has a projected cost of US$21 million, has sparked debate about Bhutan's ability to attract sufficient investment. However, Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, the head of the ports-to-power conglomerate, joined the city as a founding member in January.

The site will be connected to India's rail network in Assam, with an international airport slated to open in 2029. Bhutan is also exploring its cryptocurrency ambitions, mining bitcoin using surplus hydropower and planning to use digital assets to support the city's development. A local resident, Bishnu Maya Moktang, expressed her excitement about the upcoming mindfulness city, hoping to live long enough to see it, as her parents never had the chance to see it.