The Bhutanese Leading the way.
One of the main structures that will come up in the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) is the Gelephu Dzong modeled after the Rinpung Dzong of Paro.
The site of the Dzong is being shifted from the top of the current Phulari Viewpoint overlooking Gelephu to the base of Phulari due to some geological issues with the initial location.
A source stated that the main advantage is the significantly larger area now available for construction at the Gelephu Dzong site. As a result, the plan is to build it even larger than the Rinpung Dzong.
While things are on the drawing board, the bigger size means it may even have additional structures and features compared to the original Rinpung Dzong.
The interior design of the Dzong will draw inspiration from Dungkar Dzong, combining traditional architectural elements with modern features.
It will have modern washrooms, lifts, a seminar hall, conference room, theaters, meditation center and while it will have modern features like Dungkar Dzong the aim is to take it to the next level.
The Gelephu Dzong is being funded by the Zhung Dratshang with the estimated cost expected to be above Nu 1 billion.
The Dzong will not just have modern features but it will also be used by the Dratshang for Vajrayana Buddhist purposes. The Dzong will also be built and designed in close discussions with the Zhung Dratshang and there is a special design team working on the Dzong.
The hilltop will have a Lhakhang or Neykha dedicated to the Dechenphug Ap Geynen, an important protective deity of Bhutan.
The Dzong is intended to be among the iconic structures in the landscape of the GMC, embodying Bhutan’s cultural and architectural heritage.
Another major project will be the Gelephu Chorten, which will be a significant spiritual and cultural landmark in the GMC. The Chorten is in the final stages of the design and is expected to be even bigger than the chorten in Kathmandu.
Constructed as a Royal Project, the chorten will be a centerpiece of the GMC. Built on 108 acres of land in Dawathang, Chhuzangang, the design of the structure, measuring 108 meters by 108 meters with a height of 45 meters, is based on the Jarong Khashor stupa. The original Jarong Khashor stupa, believed to be the Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu, is linked to Guru Padmasambhava, and holds immense spiritual significance. In Buddhist tradition, the construction of such a stupa is regarded as an act of unparalleled merit, with the structure described in scriptures as a gathering place of the buddhas and bodhisattvas of the ten directions.
The construction will involve local masons and craftsmen, with stone as the primary material, to ensure that traditional Bhutanese craftsmanship is preserved.
