A Procession, Not a Cluster

The chortens will stand 108 metres apart, centre to centre, in a single file tracing the river corridor. Rather than a dense cluster of monuments, the formation is described as "a procession", a line of prayer bending with the land across Bhutan's southern foothills. The project's website notes that if the 108 chortens were stacked vertically, the resulting tower would reach 138.5 metres, taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Seven Elements of Meaning

Each chorten's architectural elevation carries seven symbolic layers, read from earth to enlightenment: the Thri (pedestal), representing the Earth element and solid foundation; the Bangrim (stepped base), symbolising the Four Noble Truths; the Bum-pa (dome), a vessel for sacred relics; the Lhakhang (niche), holding a Buddha image; the Khorlo (thirteen rings), representing the stages to Buddhahood; the Dhug (parasol), offering spiritual protection; and the Nyim-da (moon, sun and flame), signifying compassion, wisdom and their union.

The Significance of 108

The number 108 resonates across traditions. In astronomy, the Earth-to-Sun distance is roughly 108 solar diameters, and the Earth-to-Moon distance about 108 lunar diameters. In Buddhism, the Kangyur comprises 108 volumes, a mala has 108 beads, and tradition speaks of 108 afflictive emotions to release. In Hindu tradition there are 108 Upanishads and 108 names of many deities. Mathematically, 11 × 22 × 33 = 108, the hyperfactorial of three.

Forty Thousand Hands, One Day

The build is organised around zhābto, the Bhutanese tradition of voluntary communal work offered as spiritual practice. Foundations and earthworks have been prepared at all 108 sites by volunteer cohorts, with schoolchildren, retirees, monks, farmers, doctors and diaspora volunteers participating. On completion day, an estimated 40,000 volunteers are expected across the sites, comparable in scale to the workforce of the Great Pyramid or the Taj Mahal, but voluntary and accomplished in a single day. The website explains that in Vajrayana Buddhism, aligned intention and action can transform a single moment: "The act itself is the offering."

A Royal Initiative

The project was announced by His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on 21 February 2026. In his words: "We must do it to prove to ourselves that, as we face the challenges ahead, there is no limit to what we can achieve when we stand together."

Three Ways to Participate

The project invites global participation through three channels: volunteering on the build day (registration is open via the website), staying connected through a live webcast of the 1 November completion along with prayers and practices for the day, and making an offering of any size toward construction, sacred materials and consecration by Buddhist masters, offerings may be dedicated in honour of family, loved ones, or all sentient beings.

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For more information or to register interest, visit 108.gmc.bt.