- Nov 04, 2026
- by Ashley Chen
- 209
Bhutan Sets Guinness World Record With 108 Chortens in Gelephu
Bhutan set a Guinness World Record by consecrating 108 chortens in one day, with Chorten No. 76 dedicated to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The people of Bhutan have set a Guinness World Record for “The Most Stupas/Chortens Consecrated Simultaneously (Multiple Venues)” following the completion of 108 Jangchub Chortens in Gelephu Mindfulness City on 1 November 2026.
An official Guinness World Records adjudicator formally presented the certificate to Gelephu Mindfulness City Governor Dasho Dr Lotay Tshering during the ceremony.
The chortens were raised over nine hours, with work beginning at 3am and concluding around noon. They were then consecrated simultaneously across 108 sites.
How Bhutan Completed 108 Chortens in Nine Hours
The Jangchub Chortens stand along the Mau Chhu river in Gelephu, a town in southern Bhutan near the border with the Indian state of Assam.
Each chorten is 15 metres tall, with approximately 108 metres separating neighbouring structures. Together, they form a corridor extending for about 11.7 kilometres.
Trained teams of between 20 and 23 people were assigned to each construction site. They worked alongside thousands of volunteers who supported transportation, logistics and other preparations.
The single-day undertaking followed months of planning. Monks prepared the zung, which are sacred texts, relics and consecrated objects placed inside a chorten. Construction materials and prefabricated components were also prepared in advance and positioned at the individual sites.
In Bhutan, a chorten is a Buddhist stupa. These sacred structures commonly contain religious texts and relics and serve as places of prayer, remembrance and reflection. A Jangchub Chorten, or Stupa of Enlightenment, represents the Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment.
Chorten No. 76 Dedicated to Narendra Modi
Chorten No. 76 was dedicated to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of the friendship between Bhutan and India.
His Majesty King Jigme, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Indian Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju offered prayers at the chorten during the gathering.
The dedication reflects the close relationship between Bhutan and India, which cooperate in areas including hydropower, trade, education, infrastructure and regional connectivity.
A Day of Buddhist and National Significance
The event took place on Lhabab Duechen, an important day in the Buddhist calendar commemorating the Buddha’s return to earth after teaching in the heavenly realm.
The date also marked the 18th anniversary of the King’s coronation. Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was formally crowned as Bhutan’s fifth king on 1 November 2008.
The King announced Project 108 on 21 February 2026. The initiative was conceived as an offering for peace and well-being while creating a permanent spiritual landscape within Gelephu Mindfulness City.
The number 108 carries deep significance in Buddhist traditions. It is associated with the 108 volumes of the Kangyur, the translated teachings attributed to the Buddha, and the 108 mental afflictions that Buddhist practice seeks to overcome.
International Guests Join the Gathering
Buddhist masters, international guests and people from across Bhutan travelled to Gelephu for the event.
Chinese actor and martial artist Jet Li joined volunteers involved in raising the chortens. His participation formed part of a wider gathering that brought together religious leaders, invited guests, skilled construction teams and volunteers.
The event combined religious practice, engineering and public participation on an unprecedented scale for Bhutan.
A Permanent Spiritual Corridor for Gelephu
The Guinness World Record recognises the coordination required to consecrate 108 chortens simultaneously across multiple sites. The structures themselves will remain as a permanent part of Gelephu Mindfulness City.
Extending along the Mau Chhu, the 108 chortens are intended to provide places for prayer and reflection as the new city develops around them.
Their completion records more than a single day of construction. It reflects months of preparation and the collective effort of monks, skilled workers, volunteers and communities from across Bhutan.
For more information about the event and its religious significance, check out Bhutan Successfully Raised 108 Chortens in Gelephu.
Pilgrims Walk the Full Route
Since the consecration, people have been walking the entire route and circumambulating all 108 chortens on foot. Circumambulation involves walking clockwise around a sacred structure as an act of prayer and devotion in Buddhist practice.
Some pilgrims have completed the journey in about five to six hours. Others have taken approximately 10 hours, depending on their pace and the time spent praying at each chorten. The walk has given the completed corridor an active spiritual purpose.