The tiny little country right on the border with India building a giant new city
The city will be built around mindfulness and hopes to attract "top talents" from around the world to be its new residents.
Bhutan is surrounded by famous locations - such as Mount Everest and Tibet - but is nowhere near as well known. However, with the construction of a brand new city based on the principles of mindfulness the country is hoping to make its popularity soar.
Announced by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk in December 2023, Gelephu Mindfulness City will be located near the town of Gelephu along Bhutan’s southern border with India.
It is expected to cover 386 square miles which equates to 2.5% of the tiny Himalayan country. The city will be built around a number of inhabitable bridges which will house amenities such as a new airport, a university and a spiritual centre.
And it’s already underway - with the airport and a dry port currently under construction. However, there’s no set completion date for the overall project. There is a slick website which explains more for those who are interested about the project.
It explains: “Gelephu Mindfulness City is a Special Administrative Region in southern Bhutan, with a focus on mindfulness, sustainability, and harmony.
“In a world’s first, the Mindfulness City will be a unique setting, where development and growth co-exist in harmony with nature and mindfulness living.
“When completed, the Mindfulness City will be a showcase for sustainable and value-driven urban development for future generations.”
The website also explains that the city will be based around four key tenets including mindfulness and wellbeing, sustainability and nature, wisdom and values and finally innovation and growth.
The first-ever foreign tourists were only allowed inside Bhutan's borders in 1974. The first year saw 287 tourists enter the kingdom but modern-day Bhutan can see up to 315,600 tourists per year.
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Many tourists take in the country's stunning vistas, marvel at its rich Buddhist history and landmarks such as mountainside monastery Paro Taktsang.
Be prepared to pay for your experience, however, if you do venture to the stunning country. Bhutan authorities once required tourists to hand over $200 (£156) per visitor per night "Sustainable Development Fee", costing a family of four £624 per day.
It was introduced to fund programmes that would offset the carbon generated by visitors. Last year, however, the nation decided to halve that bill to a still pricey $100 (£78).
