Bhutan’s volunteers raise 108 Buddhist monuments in one day

Around 40,000 volunteers helped raise the outer structures of 108 Buddhist monuments in a single day in southern Bhutan, completing a months-long effort of planning and preparation. The coordinated construction took place on 1 November 2026 at the site of the planned Gelephu Mindfulness City.

The 15-metre-tall monuments, called stupas or chortens, stretch for nearly 12 kilometres along a river near the Indian border. They commemorate the Buddha’s enlightenment, and their number, 108, has sacred significance in Buddhist traditions.

This was not construction from scratch overnight. Foundations had already been laid, components prepared and teams trained for the assembly. Volunteers worked alongside skilled builders and artisans to bring all 108 external structures into place. Around 200,000 people attended the gathering, according to officials, with Buddhist teachers from several traditions joining the ceremonies. As night fell, crowds gathered to chant and offer prayers beside the monuments.

The stupas are one part of a much larger ambition. Bhutan hopes Gelephu Mindfulness City will attract sustainable businesses and create opportunities that encourage young people to stay rather than seek work abroad. The wider project remains a long-term undertaking, and analysts have questioned whether it can secure enough investment. The monuments nevertheless mark a completed communal effort, placing Bhutan’s religious heritage within its plans for development.