Gelephu is preparing to welcome tens of thousands of devotees and visitors as the town gets ready for the raising of 108 Jangchub Chorten on November 1. Around 100,000 people are expected to gather for the event, with hotels and other accommodation facilities already seeing a surge in demand.
For 77-year-old Gyeltshen Drukpa, preparations have already begun at home. His phone has been ringing with calls from relatives and friends planning to travel to Gelephu for the event.
“My children, relatives and friends have been calling me for quite some time, asking if they can stay with us in Gelephu. Most of them are looking for a place to stay, and some have even asked if they can set up tents around our home. I have welcomed everyone and assured them that we will manage. The 108 Stupa Project is for everyone, and this is the least we can do to support it,” he said.
His experience reflects what is happening across Gelephu. Hotels, guesthouses and apartments are experiencing a sharp increase in demand, with many accommodations already fully booked ahead of the main event.
Kencho Wangmo from Hotel Yangtsholing Tara in Gelephu said the hotel is fully booked, with most rooms reserved five to six months in advance.
“There are around 62 to 63 hotels in Gelephu, and most of them are fully booked as of today. Some rooms were booked as early as three months ago by individuals, offices, and international guests coming for the 108 Stupa Project,” said Thinley Gyamtsho from Gaden Hotel.
The Governor of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), Dasho Dr Lotay Tshering, said Bhutan has not witnessed a gathering of this scale before.
“As of today, Bhutan has not seen a gathering of this scale, with around 100,000 people expected to come together in one place,” he said.
He added that international guests from around 20 countries are expected to attend, along with guests of His Majesty The King, supporters and sponsors of the 108 stupas, and spiritual masters.
The event will also bring together revered spiritual masters from Bhutan and around the world. His Holiness the Je Khenpo is expected to be in Gelephu from October 21 to lead prayers and rituals of purification and blessing ahead of the main event.
According to Dasho Tashi Dorji, Lead of the Spiritual Workstream at the Gelephu Mindfulness City Administration, several spiritual masters have been invited to participate in the event.
“As the day is envisioned as a global spiritual event, as per the royal command, we have invited many great spiritual masters from around the world and are expected to visit the GMC. Therefore, there are also extensive preparations and we have planned to construct eight galleries from where spiritual masters and monks will offer prayers and rituals,” he said.
While thousands of people are expected to gather for the event, they will not be involved directly in constructing the stupas.
The 108 stupas will each stand 15 metres tall.
Tashi Penjor, Managing Director of City Development at the Gelephu Mindfulness City Administration, said it would not be practical for thousands of volunteers to construct all the stupas simultaneously. “The stupas are 15 metres tall, and there are 108 of them. With thousands of volunteers coming together and trying to build the stupas at the same time, it would not be practical or possible. That is why we have already trained a team of builders who will carry out the construction,” he said.
As of now, around 84,000 people have registered for the event, with excitement building across the country.
Sangay Dorji from Phuentshogling said he has been looking forward to the event and hopes to receive blessings from spiritual masters from Bhutan and abroad.
“We are very excited about the upcoming 108 Stupa event and have been looking forward to it for a long time. We will not only get to witness the construction of the 108 stupas, but also have the opportunity to meet and receive blessings from spiritual masters coming from Bhutan and around the world. We feel truly blessed to have this opportunity,” he said.
For Chador from Wangdue Phodrang, the event is a special opportunity to witness an important occasion in Bhutan.
“I feel very blessed and fortunate to be a Bhutanese and to have this opportunity to witness such an important occasion. To have so many great spiritual masters coming together in Gelephu for the construction and consecration of the 108 stupas is something very special. I believe this will contribute to the flourishing of Buddha Dharma and bring peace and tranquillity in the world,” he said.
For others, the scale and speed of the project have been particularly striking.
“For us, even building a small stupa can take almost a month. So, when I heard that 108 stupas would be constructed in Gelephu in a single day, I was amazed and inspired. I really wish to be there and take part in this special event,” said Norbu Tshering from Trashigang.
Similarly, 74-year-old Sonam Tobgay from Bumthang said he was surprised to hear that 108 stupas would be constructed in a single day.
“In my 74 years, I have seen many temples and stupas being built, but most of them have taken years to complete. So, when I heard that 108 stupas would be constructed in a single day, I was surprised and amazed. Since the announcement, I have been looking forward to travelling to Gelephu and seeing it with my own eyes,” he said.
Back in Gelephu, residents like Gyeltshen Drukpa are preparing to welcome family members and friends. Across the town, homes are making space, hotels are filling up and people are making travel plans.
The Mao River continues to flow quietly through Gelephu, but on November 1, the area is expected to be filled with thousands of devotees as the 108 Stupa Project brings people together for the historic event.
Passang Dorji & Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
