Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk on November 1, dedicated Jangchub Chorten No. 79 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in appreciation of India’s steadfast support for the Gelephu Mindfulness City project.
| Photo Credit: Rahul Karmakar
Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk on Sunday (November 1, 2026) dedicated one of the 108 Buddhist stupas erected in a nine-hour construction feat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a mark of appreciation for India’s support for the country’s ambitious Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project.
About 40,000 trained volunteers built the 108 Jangchub Chortens in what could be a potentially record-breaking royal initiative to lay the spiritual foundation of the planned city.
About 240 km south-southeast of Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, Gelephu borders Assam’s Chirang district. King Wangchuk envisions the city as a spirituality-driven global economic hub.
The King, other members of the royal family, top officials and foreign dignitaries faced Chorten Number 79 from the ceremonial ground as thousands of people around chanted a six-syllable Tibetan Buddhist mantra a billion times while the volunteers completed the mission between 3 a.m. and 12 noon.
About two hours later, the focus shifted to Chorten Number 76, which the King dedicated to Mr. Modi “as an enduring symbol” of his “profound appreciation” for the latter’s “unwavering commitment and India’s steadfast support for the realisation” of GMC. Bhutanese officials said the number was chosen because Mr. Modi turned 76 more than a month ago.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who represented India for ‘Project 108’, thanked the King for dedicating Chorten 76 to Mr. Modi. “This remarkable milestone is an enduring symbol of the deep spiritual and civilisational bonds between our two nations,” he said, congratulating Bhutan on the achievement.
Each 15 metres tall and 108 metres apart, the Jangchub Chortens, or Buddhist stupas, stand in a single meandering file along the Mau Chhu River, Gelephu’s lifeline. Built with steel and other improvised building materials, they mark a departure from the traditional use of stone and earth.
Addressing the people after the completion of Project 108, King Wangchuk said he had been worried that the construction of 108 stupas in a single day might not succeed. “People from every walk of life and every generation came together to make this possible,” he said, underscoring the Bhutanese collective spirit and ability to achieve “anything impossible”.
He said the same spirit would help Bhutan overcome natural calamities, economic crises, and other challenges. The King also expressed gratitude to Bhutan’s patrons, sponsors, supporters, and well-wishers. “Prime Minister Modi and the government of India have been enormously supportive of Bhutan and of the vision of Gelephu Mindfulness City,” he said.
Published – November 01, 2026 10:07 pm IST
