Each of the 15-meter-tall stupas is spaced 108 meters apart, a number sacred in Buddhism. The structures were built as a spiritual offering and a physical form of prayer, with each containing prayers, blessings, relics, and spiritual texts. The event attracted an estimated 200,000 people, nearly a quarter of Bhutan’s population.

The project, known as Project 108, is part of the Gelephu Mindfulness City initiative, a vision by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to create a sustainable economic hub prioritizing ecological balance and the well-being of citizens over commercial profit. The city is designed by Danish architects and intended to attract investment in green technology, education, tourism, and financial services.

The number 108 holds deep spiritual significance in Buddhism. The stupas are considered one of the most meritorious acts a person can undertake. The project’s website states that the structures represent the Buddha’s enlightenment and aim to help practitioners attain enlightenment within a single lifetime. Kinley Dorji, a spokesperson for Gelephu Mindfulness City, described the event as “a big historic and spiritual” moment for Bhutan.

During the ceremony, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck dedicated one of the stupas—Chorten Number 76—to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a symbol of appreciation for India’s support for the project. The number was chosen because Modi recently turned 76. Indian Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, representing India at the event, praised the gesture as a symbol of the “deep spiritual and civilisational bonds” between the two nations.

The Gelephu Mindfulness City is located in southern Bhutan, near the Indian border. The site is expected to be connected to India’s rail network in Assam. An international airport is planned to open in 2029. The city is also linked to Bhutan’s cryptocurrency ambitions, with the kingdom using surplus hydropower to mine Bitcoin and support the city’s development through digital assets.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck expressed gratitude for the collective effort, saying, “People from every walk of life and every generation came together to make this possible.” The king established the special zone by royal charter in 2024, stating its purpose was to “create a vibrant economic hub.”

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has joined the project as a founding member. The site is expected to benefit from its strategic location and planned infrastructure.