Bhutan entered Guinness World Records on 3 November 2026 after 108 Buddhist stupas, also known as Jangchub Chortens, were constructed and consecrated in one day at Gelephu Mindfulness City. The record was achieved on 1 November, with the work completed in nine hours.
Record-setting construction
Construction began at 3:00 am and ended by noon along a 12-kilometre stretch of the Mau Chhu River. About 40,000 trained volunteers worked in teams of 20 to 23 at designated sites. Each stupa stood about 15 metres tall; the structures, made with steel and other improvised materials, were spaced 108 metres apart. Guinness World Records recognised the achievement for the highest number of stupas consecrated in a single day. GMC Governor Dr Lotay Tshering announced it during a live broadcast on Bhutan Broadcasting Service. A Guinness World Records representative presented the certificate to him in Gelephu on 3 November.
Dedication and occasion
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck dedicated Chorten No. 76 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 November, acknowledging India’s support for the Gelephu Mindfulness City project. The construction coincided with the 18th anniversary of the King’s coronation. In Bhutan, 1 November is also observed as the Day of Lord Buddha’s Descent from Trāyastriṃśa Heaven and as Mother’s Day.
Important Facts for Exams
- Functional categories: Buddhist stupas are classified as relic, object, commemorative, symbolic or votive monuments, according to what they enshrine or commemorate.
- Circumambulation: Clockwise circumambulation of a stupa, called pradakhshina, is a longstanding Buddhist devotional ritual.
- Tibetan form: In Tibetan Buddhism, the stupa developed into the chorten, the name used for this form of Buddhist monument in Tibet.
- Traditional structure: The original South Asian stupa form has a solid dome above a drum, usually on a square base, with no access to its interior.
