Tareythang Gyalsung Academy has been converted into a model village to host spiritual leaders, invited guests, and sponsors attending the raising of the 108 Jangchub Chorten. Besides providing accommodation, the 108 Village will also showcase Bhutanese arts, crafts and locally made products.
With around 380 rooms, the village is expected to accommodate approximately 700 guests. According to the organisers, the rooms and dining areas have been designed and furnished to meet four-star accommodation standards.
The guests are expected to arrive today and stay until the 108 stupas event concludes.
Students and faculty from the Royal Institute for Tourism and Hospitality, along with trainees from the Gyalsung, DeSuung and Bondey Institute of Hotel and Tourism, are working together to provide housekeeping and catering services at the village and the eight Zeerays.
“In preparation for the 108 stupas event, we have converted all the officers’ quarters and the transit camps into hotel accommodation rooms as per the standards of a four-star accommodation facility. Apart from the rooms, we also converted the catered mess into a dining room suitable for international guests and all. So, there is a major change in the dining hall,” said Thinley Wangmo, Training Director with the Royal Institute for Tourism and Hospitality.
Beyond accommodation, the village will also offer guests an opportunity to experience Bhutanese culture and craftsmanship.
Through CSI pop-ups, visitors can explore traditional arts and crafts, handwoven products, wellness and beauty items, paintings, and other Bhutan-made products.
They can also watch artisans demonstrate their skills and experience how some of the products are made.
Additional facilities, including ATMs and spa services, have also been arranged for guests.
Besides spiritual leaders, the event will also bring international celebrities, including Hollywood actor, martial artist and philanthropist Jet Li.
Hollywood actor Laurence Fishburne is also in Bhutan to produce a documentary on the raising of the 108 Jangchub Chorten.
More than 1,000 guests from around 17 countries are expected to visit Gelephu for the event.
Namgay Wangdi
