Tens of thousands build 108 Buddhist stupas for Bhutan ‘mindfulness’ city
Bhutan is building a 'mindfulness' city to drive economic growth and persuade more young people to stay.
Tens of thousands of volunteers have taken part in building 108 Buddhist stupas in Bhutan’s new “mindfulness” city, as the Himalayan kingdom embarks on an ambitious project to boost economic growth.
The 15-metre-tall (50ft) stupas, sacred Buddhist monuments found across the Himalayas, were installed on Sunday along 12km (7.5 miles) of riverbank near the Indian border, at the site of the future Gelephu Mindfulness City.
More than 40,000 volunteers participated in building the structures as “a physical form of prayer made permanent in stone and earth”, after starting work after midnight, officials said. The number 108 is sacred in Buddhism, widely practised in Bhutan.
The king established the special zone by royal charter in 2024, saying its purpose was to “create a vibrant economic hub”.