Over 70 Jangchub Chortens Sponsored as Project 108 Gains Momentum
More than 70 of the 108 Jangchub Chortens planned for Gelephu Mindfulness City have already secured sponsorship, drawing support from Bhutanese communities, institutions, and contributors around the world.
More than 70 of the 108 Jangchub Chortens planned for Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) have already secured sponsorship, reflecting growing support for one of Bhutan’s largest sacred initiatives.
Sponsoring a single Jangchub Chorten requires a contribution of Nu 20 million (approximately USD 235,000). The project continues to attract support from individuals, institutions, businesses, religious organisations, and Bhutanese communities both at home and abroad.
Semthuen Tshokpa Sponsors Chorten No. 5
Among the latest contributors is Semthuen Tshokpa, a group led by former Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup and comprising 108 members, including former ministers, Dashos, and senior civil servants.
The group contributed Nu 23.3 million (~USD 274,000) towards Project 108.
Of the total contribution, Nu 20 million (~USD 235,000) will fund the construction of Jangchub Chorten No. 5. The remaining Nu 3.3 million (~USD 39,000) will support requirements and expenses related to the 1 November event.
Members described the contribution as an expression of gratitude to the nation they have served over the decades and a continuation of their commitment to Bhutan.
“It is a profound opportunity that comes once in a lifetime. This is the vision of His Majesty The King, and it will benefit all of us. Even foreigners are contributing to this sacred project, making it all the more important for us to take part, especially senior citizens like us. We also have Yum Thinley Choden in our team. We must participate in this initiative. I believe it is best to contribute as early as possible, as there is a great deal of preparation work to be done and many components need to be assembled before the main construction begins,” said Dasho Rinzin Gyaltshen, a member of Semthuen Tshokpa.
Support from Bhutan and Beyond
Support for Project 108 has come from a wide range of contributors, including religious institutions, business communities, foundations, and individuals from Bhutan and around the world.
Fundraising efforts are also being organised through Bhutanese diaspora groups and associations overseas.
To facilitate contributions, GMC-authorised accounts have been opened with DK Bank and the Bank of Bhutan. Supporters can also contribute through an online crowdfunding platform hosted by the Royal Securities Exchange of Bhutan.
The initiative was launched by His Majesty King Jigme Khesar and will see 108 Jangchub Chortens, sacred Buddhist stupas symbolising enlightenment, constructed at Gelephu Mindfulness City on 1 November.
A Family’s Gratitude Turned Into an Offering
Among the contributors is Pelden Dorji and his family, whose livelihoods were severely affected when the COVID-19 pandemic brought Bhutan’s tourism industry to a standstill in 2020.
Like many tour guides across the country, they faced months of uncertainty as work disappeared almost overnight.
During the crisis, His Majesty The King enquired about the wellbeing of Bhutan’s guides and the challenges they faced. Support through the Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu subsequently reached those whose livelihoods had been affected by the pandemic.
For Pelden Dorji and his family, the assistance became a lifeline during a difficult period.
Today, they have joined the Journey to 108 with a contribution of Nu 80,000 (~USD 940).
Years after the pandemic, the family says their gratitude remains unchanged. When His Majesty announced the vision for the 108 Jangchub Chortens, they saw an opportunity to both participate in a historic undertaking and give back in a meaningful way.
For the family, Project 108 represents not only the construction of sacred monuments but also a chance to once again support a vision that has touched their lives.
Buli Trulku Joins the Journey to 108
His Eminence the 10th Buli Trulku, Sonam Loday Rinpoche, has also joined the initiative.
Recognised at the age of 12 as the reincarnation of the Buli Trulku, Rinpoche has spent decades serving the Buddha Dharma and supporting communities across Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh through the establishment of monasteries, Buddhist colleges, and meditation centres.
His contribution to Project 108 reflects continued support for initiatives that promote spiritual wellbeing and benefit future generations.
Supporters often speak not only of Rinpoche’s achievements but also of the humility with which he has carried out his work.
His participation adds to the growing number of religious leaders, institutions, and practitioners who have chosen to support the project.
A Lifetime Collection Offered to Project 108
For most people, coins are simply currency. For Phuntsho Wangdi, they became a lifelong passion.
Today, Phuntsho Wangdi and his family have joined the Journey to 108 with an offering of Nu 108,000 (approximately USD 1,270) and more than seven kilograms of coins towards Project 108.
During his years in the civil service in the 1990s, Phuntsho Wangdi developed a habit of collecting coins wherever his travels took him, both within Bhutan and abroad. Over time, the collection grew to include coins from different periods, countries, and histories.
Among them are Bhutanese coins that have become increasingly rare in an era of banknotes and digital payments, along with several historic coins dating back to the eighteenth century.
One particular encounter remained with him for years.
In 2001, while in Phuentsholing, he met a man from Cooch Behar who possessed a collection of old coins. Recognising their religious significance, Phuntsho Wangdi acquired the collection and carefully preserved it for more than two decades.
For years, the coins remained part of a treasured personal collection.
That changed when he learned of His Majesty The King’s vision for the 108 Jangchub Chortens at Gelephu Mindfulness City.
Rather than keeping the collection for himself, Phuntsho Wangdi chose to offer it in support of Project 108, contributing both the coins and a monetary donation as part of a broader effort to create merit and benefit future generations.
His contribution reflects one of the many personal stories emerging through the Journey to 108, where offerings carry not only financial value but also decades of memories, meaning, and devotion.
A Growing National and Global Movement
Just months after His Majesty King Jigme announced the vision for Project 108 on 21 February 2026, the initiative has attracted widespread participation.
More than 20,000 volunteers have registered, while over 70 Jangchub Chortens have already been sponsored through individual and collective contributions.
Participants include civil servants, business leaders, armed forces personnel, foresters, monastics, lay practitioners, Bhutanese families, and friends of Bhutan from around the world.
Contributions continue to arrive in many forms, including financial support, volunteer service, prayers, resources, and acts of kindness.
As preparations continue, Project 108 is evolving into more than a construction effort. It is becoming a collective undertaking that brings together people from different backgrounds in support of a shared vision rooted in compassion, wisdom, and service.
The invitation remains open for anyone wishing to contribute, whether through sponsoring a chorten, making an offering, volunteering, or supporting the initiative in other ways.
