Gelephu Mindfulness City

Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) (Dzongkha: དགེ་ལེགས་ཕུག་དྲན་ཤེས་ཁྲོམ་ཚོགས), also known as the Gelephu Special Administrative Region (stylized as GeSAR), is an economic hub and special administrative region in Gelephu, Bhutan, intended to be separate from the country's existing laws.^[1] It is part of the Sarpang District Special Economic Zone. Strategically located on the border with India, the finished city will leverage regional connectivity between South and Southeast Asia. It will cover an area of 2,500 square kilometers, three times the size of Singapore.^[1]

Gelephu Mindfulness City Gelephu Special Administrative Region
Special Administrative Region
Country	Bhutan
District	Sarpang District
Region	Gelephu
Announced	17 December 2023
Founded by	King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Government
• Type	Special Administrative Region with its own Basic Law
Area
• Total	2,500 km2 (970 sq mi)
Website	gmc.bt

The city has its own business-friendly regulations and systems, integrating sustainability, Bhutanese culture, and spirituality, with plastic-free, modern, urban, low-rise, eco-friendly buildings. The longer-term aim is to create a clean-technology innovation hub by attracting global investment to boost economic activity. All food is to be organic, electricity from renewable sources, and the hub will be built to promote cycling and to foster AI innovation.^[2]

The GMC has received attention for its Gross National Happiness concept, which prioritizes spiritual well-being, cultural preservation, good governance, and environmental conservation, over economic growth.

History and background

The King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, announced the new city during a royal address at the 116th National Day celebration, on 17 December 2023.^[3] He described Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) as being a special administrative region (SAR) with its own distinct laws and systems, with initial development to be driven by foreign direct investment.^[4] Unveiled as part of Bhutan's broader strategy to diversify its economy beyond hydropower and tourism and create opportunities for its youth, GMC is intended to emphasize the country's cultural identity while integrating modern technologies and sustainable practices.^[5] Its development gained prominence at the Bhutan Innovation Forum in 2024, where it received endorsement from Nobel laureates Joseph Stiglitz and Michael Spence, architect Bjarke Ingels, and Snap Inc. CEO Evan Spiegel.^[4]

Planning and design

The project's plan, developed by Danish architects Bjarke Ingels Group, sustainability consultants Arup and Cistri, and MQDC, will feature eleven mandala-inspired neighbourhoods connected by green corridors and inhabitable bridges.^[6] Designed to be low-rise and eco-friendly, the urban fabric will prioritize walkability, cycling, and integration with the Himalayan foothills and tropical plains.^[7]

The project will focus on eight core industries and sectors: spirituality, health and wellness, education, green energy and technology, finance and digital assets, agri-tech and forestry, aviation and logistics, and tourism.^[8][9]

In January 2025, GMC announced incorporation of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum into its strategic reserves, marking a pioneering move in global finance.^[10]

The king has led a volunteer program, hand-clearing the site of the new international airport.^[11] This effort reflects Bhutan's tradition of "zhabtog", or community labour. The program brought together 7,050 people, which included members of parliament as well as community groups from across the country. They worked together to develop public spaces and parks for Gelephu Mindfulness City, cleaning areas, installing benches, water points, and toilets.^[12]

In October 2025, at the start of the third wave of volunteer service, which brought together more than 5,600 people, the king established the "pelsung", a new program aimed at youth. "Everything we are doing today is for our youth—so that they will be better versions of us, better prepared, smarter, and more hard-working. It falls on us to build that future, and on them to protect it and take it to greater heights", he said. "We begin with 400–500 pelsungs but expect to have thousands in the coming years".^[13]

Features

Sustainability

GMC is touted as a global model for regenerative development, with mandates for zero-waste systems, biodiversity corridors, and carbon-negative buildings. All electricity will derive from renewables, and transportation will favor electric and non-motorized options.^[14]

Economy

The development will target eight pillar industries to create 100,000 jobs by 2030, focusing on high-value sectors like fintech, wellness tourism, and green technology. Business-friendly regulations, including tax incentives and a dedicated legal framework, will aim to attract global firms.^[15] In 2025, tourism stakeholders expressed strong interest in wellness retreats and cultural experiences.^[16]

Infrastructure

The region is to include an international airport, whose first phase will accommodate around 1.3 million passengers annually, with plans for expansion to 5.5 million.^[17] To fund the airport and related infrastructure, including high-speed rail links to India and smart grid systems, Bhutan launched its first-ever domestic bond offering in 2025, which has seen strong support from local investors.^{[18][19][20][21]}

Recent developments

In January 2025, the GMC received attention for its Gross National Happiness (GNH) concept, which prioritizes spiritual well-being, cultural preservation, good governance, and environmental conservation over economic growth.^[22] As Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay stated, "Happiness and well-being of people must be the purpose of capitalism".^[23]

As of September 2025, the "Innovate for GMC" program had attracted over 1,700 applicants, offering stipends to 500 youth for idea incubation in October.^[24] Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay promoted investment opportunities at the UNGA P3 Summit in New York City.^[25]

On 26 September 2025, the digital asset financial services company Matrixport announced that it had received a financial services license to operate in GMC. It also stated that it would open an office in GMC and cultivate local talent.^[26][27]