PM Anutin attends Bhutan’s royal Project 108 stupa ceremony in Gelephu

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul travelled to Gelephu, Bhutan, with his wife and a delegation on Sunday (November 1, 2026) to attend the opening ceremony for Project 108, an initiative to build 108 stupas.

He attended at the Bhutanese government’s invitation and was the only foreign leader invited to the event.

Ceremonial welcome reflects close ties

At the ceremony venue, Anutin was welcomed by Bhutan’s prime minister, together with Home Affairs Minister Lyonpo Lungten Dorji, Health Minister Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk, Foreign Minister Lyonpo D.N. Dhungyel and Dasho Dr Lotay Tshering, governor of Gelephu’s special administrative region.

The reception reflected the importance the Bhutanese government attached to the Thai government’s participation.

Bhutan’s King and Queen then arrived at the venue for the Project 108 celebrations before the ceremony began.

Long trumpets known as dungchen were sounded to celebrate the construction of the 108 stupas, and participants joined in singing Bhutan’s national anthem.

Project 108 brings together 40,000 volunteers for a 24-hour build

Project 108 is a royal initiative of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Bhutan’s fifth king, to construct and install 108 Jangchub Chortens, or stupas of enlightenment, along the Mao Chhu near Gelephu, in a key area of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC).

Each stupa is approximately 15 metres tall, with the structures positioned 108 metres apart.

All 108 are scheduled to be completed together within 24 hours through the combined efforts of more than 40,000 volunteers.

Learning from Gelephu Mindfulness City’s development model

The invitation offered Thailand’s prime minister an opportunity to demonstrate goodwill and the close relationship between the two countries at an important occasion bringing together religion, culture and national development.

It also provided an opportunity for Thailand to experience the development concept for Gelephu, which has been designated a special administrative region and is being developed under the GMC vision.

The aim is to create a model city that prioritises quality of life, sustainability, nature and public well-being alongside economic development.

The stupa project also reflects Bhutan’s approach to development, which places spiritual well-being and quality of life alongside economic progress.

In Vajrayana Buddhism, stupas symbolise enlightenment and the Dharma, while the number 108 carries Buddhist symbolic significance.

Building all 108 stupas together within 24 hours is therefore both a religious undertaking and a demonstration of cooperation among people from different sectors of society.

The ceremony on Sunday (November 1, 2026) coincided with Lhabab Düchen, an important observance in Vajrayana Buddhism, and the coronation anniversary of Bhutan’s King, giving the occasion added religious and royal significance.

Beyond attending an important Bhutanese ceremony, the visit offered Thailand an opportunity to participate in a significant stage of Bhutan’s development of a city of the future.

This was particularly relevant to GMC, which the Bhutanese government is developing as a special administrative region and a new model city.

The visit also provided an opportunity to learn and exchange perspectives on urban development that prioritises people and sustainability.

Royal audience before returning to Thailand

Anutin and his wife, accompanied by a small delegation, also had an audience with Bhutan’s King and Queen in Gelephu before returning to Paro for their onward journey to Thailand the same day.

They were expected to arrive in Thailand at approximately 8pm.