A Royal Initiative
Gelephu Mindfulness City, a special administrative region (SAR), is now widely accepted as a unique interpretation of 21st century urban life by His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan. Two years after it was announced, the city is growing at a phenomenal pace, with a world class international airport being constructed, monumental spiritual establishments taking shape, and international investors starting work on major global ventures.
On February 21, 2026, His Majesty The King announced the Royal initiative to build 108 Jangchub Chorten (stupas of enlightenment). His Majesty described it as an ambitious undertaking that demands courage, unity, and deep commitment:
“We must do it to prove to ourselves that, as we face the challenges ahead, there is no limit to what we can achieve when we stand together.”
The Jangchub Chorten
In Himalayan Buddhist traditions, stupas were built to commemorate major events in the Buddhau2019s life. They are sacred structures that hold prayers, blessings, and spiritual texts within their core.
The Jangchub Chorten is generally considered one of the most prominent of eight types of stupas. It commemorates the enlightenment of the Buddhau2014a moment when the full weight of suffering was met, understood, and transcended.
Human suffering sees boundaries that words cannot reach, and raising a stupa is an act of profound merit for those who help construct and support it. Each stupa embodies a single benefactor or a collective resolve, blessing an individual, a community, and all sentient beings.
It is a place where parents, families, and communities can find solace in prayer and shared benevolence.
Centre for Wellbeing and Mindfulness
Gelephu Mindfulness City, in a nation that is itself an anchor for the dharma, is envisioned as a centre for wellbeing, mindfulness, and harmony between humanity and nature.
The stupas embody these ideals in their most compassionate form and offer not only spiritual significance, but also emotional refuge.
The 108 stupas will be a powerful and visible landmark in GMC, already growing as the Buddhist capital of the 21st century. It will be built by Bhutan and friends of Bhutan in an act of collective merit-making and sacred act in the interest of global wellbeing and happiness.
The Configuration
Enlightened masters identify critical locations within the flow pattern of energy fields that maintain the balance of the planetary system. Just as acupressure points affect functioning elsewhere in a human body which is a system of connected parts, the energy-force accumulated by stupas and spiritual sites provide vital connections in the functioning of the broader universe.
The constellation of the 108 stupas forms a vital landmark in GMC, creating energy-dynamics along the topography of the mighty Himalayas as ridges taper and rivers flow into the vast Indo Gangetic plains. Such a landscape amplifies the spirituality of sacred places, enhancing harmonious balance of the cosmic system.
A Legacy for Humanity
The Gelephu Mindfulness City is a legacy of the fifth Monarch of Bhutan, as it evolves from a Royal vision into a transformative experience for Bhutan and for humanity.
This act of prayer and spiritual practice comes in a period that Buddhist masters have described as degenerate times. For the global masses, it is a reminder of the need for peace and spiritual protection in a world dealing with endless turmoil.