Bhutan has unveiled an extraordinary spiritual project that has captured the imagination of its people and supporters worldwide. Dubbed Project 108, the initiative aims to build 108 Buddhist stupas, or chortens, in Gelephu Mindfulness City on 1 November – all in a single day.
The royal undertaking, announced by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck during his 46th birthday celebrations, has already secured funding for 90 of the planned monuments through domestic crowdfunding. International contributions are now being sought to complete the effort.
Each stupa will stand 15 metres tall, spaced 108 metres apart along a 12‑kilometre corridor beside the Mao Chhu river. Organisers expect around 40,000 volunteers to take part, making the event both a spiritual milestone and a feat of collective organisation.
Authorities stress that the project is not intended as a spectacle but as a profound offering dedicated to peace, compassion and remembrance. “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 King said.
Stupas are sacred monuments symbolising the enlightened mind of the Buddha. The Jangchub Chorten, or Stupa of Enlightenment, commemorates his awakening and is considered the most significant of the eight classical forms. Traditionally filled with sacred texts and prayers, they are believed to radiate blessings and protection.
Bhutan’s Ministry of Education and Skills Development has endorsed the initiative, describing it as a shared commitment to compassion and harmony for future generations. Thousands of volunteers are already preparing the land, drawing on the country’s tradition of zhābto – communal labour offered as spiritual practice.
The project reflects Bhutan’s distinctive development philosophy of Gross National Happiness, which balances material progress with cultural and spiritual well‑being. Gelephu Mindfulness City itself is envisioned as both an economic hub and a centre for mindfulness, linking South Asia and Southeast Asia while promoting sustainability and community values.
For Bhutan, the last Vajrayana Buddhist kingdom, Project 108 is more than construction. It is a collective act of devotion, a demonstration of unity, and a reminder that even in uncertain times, spiritual heritage can inspire bold national undertakings.
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