On National Day in December 2023, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck announced a vision for a new kind of city in the south of the country: the Gelephu Mindfulness City.
What is GMC?
The Gelephu Mindfulness City is a special administrative region around the town of Gelephu, close to the Indian border. It is designed as an economic hub that brings investment and opportunity to Bhutan while staying true to the values of Gross National Happiness — mindfulness, sustainability and harmony with nature.
A city designed with nature
Plans describe a city woven around rivers, forests and wildlife corridors, with renewable energy, green buildings and spaces for wellbeing and spiritual life. A new international airport and better road and rail links to the region are part of the long-term vision.
Why it matters
Many young Bhutanese have moved abroad for work in recent years. GMC is intended to create opportunities at home, connect Bhutan to South and Southeast Asia, and show that development can be both prosperous and mindful.
Visiting the south
Gelephu is already a gateway for overland travellers from Assam and a warm, green contrast to the high valleys. As the city grows, it will add a fascinating new chapter to any journey through southern Bhutan.
Header photo: MoutainBoy, CC BY-SA 4.0
