The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Gelephu is preparing to welcome more than 150,000 visitors for the 108 Jangchub Chortens on 1st November, with arrangements underway for crowd management, transportation, accommodation, drinking water, sanitation and public safety. The registered visitor numbers are 120,000 but could climb up as many would not have registered yet with an expected upper ceiling of 150,000 people or more.
Around 40,300 vehicles are expected to enter Gelephu between 1st – 4th November. To manage the anticipated traffic, designated parking areas with a combined listed capacity of approximately 12,100 vehicles have been identified.
Free shuttle buses and taxis will transport visitors between parking areas and event locations. Traffic restrictions will also be in place in the core town, with designated pedestrian routes and security arrangements to manage the movement of visitors.
Eight spectator galleries, known as Zeerays, have been arranged along the event site. Each gallery is expected to accommodate more than 10,000 people, with colour-coded seating allocations to help manage the crowd.
For accommodation, around 80,000 people are expected to be accommodated through temporary tent facilities. This includes approximately 50,000 spaces at privately operated tent sites and land allocated for around 30,000 visitors bringing their own tents. Existing hotels have also expanded their capacity to accommodate more guests.
Sanitation and drinking water facilities are another major part of the preparations. More than 5,000 toilets and urinals are being constructed at strategic locations, alongside handwashing facilities and filtered drinking water points. Around 40 water tankers have also been mobilized to support the water supply.
For children and elderly visitors who may get separated from their families, two information and help desks will be established behind Zeeray 2 and Zeeray 6.
Medical services will be provided by around 200 health workers across four locations. Mobile medical units will also operate along the Zeerays, while additional hospital facilities and ambulances will be available to respond to emergencies.
Wildlife safety is another concern, particularly given the possibility of human-elephant encounters in the surrounding areas. Around 125 forestry officials have been deployed across 17 areas to monitor elephant movements and respond to potential encounters. Authorities have also identified areas according to different levels of wildlife risk.
With thousands of visitors expected to gather in one location, the arrangements will be crucial in ensuring public safety, accessibility and smooth movement throughout the event.
However, questions remain over the adequacy of parking capacity, the distribution of drinking water and sanitation facilities, emergency evacuation arrangements and safety measures at temporary tent sites.
As Gelephu Mindfulness City prepares for the historic gathering, the effectiveness of these arrangements will be tested by the number of visitors arriving for the event.
