Many of us have experienced or at least heard of wellness retreats or mindful getaways. These quiet adventures have often been coopted to involve traveling to far away lands and doing lots of yoga. But, the South Asian country of Bhutan has the true definition of mindfulness at its center. They just revealed that they are building a city for tourists and locals embracing a Buddhist and mindful way of life.
Bhutan’s Way of Life
Bhutan stands out as a country. For one, they were never colonized. Therefore, its unique and rich cultural heritage is still lives on without much interruption. The country boasts unique architecture, vibrant textiles, and picturesque landscapes.
The country is known for its stringent regulations and have implemented various bans to keep their culture alive. Plastic bag usage and tobacco sales are prohibited by the government. And until 1999, access to television and the internet was also restricted.
What sets Bhutan apart is its official dedication to measuring national happiness. Instead of solely focusing on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the government prioritizes Gross National Happiness (GNH). This holistic approach was created to emphasize four key pillars: environmental conservation, preservation and promotion of culture, sustainable socio-economic development, and good governance.
Bhutan’s Mindfulness City
The project will be built by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), a Danish design and architecture firm. The Gelephu Mindfulness City is a vision the King of Bhutan wants to bring to life. It will be a 250,000-acre destination in the south of Bhutan, and plans are aimed at harnessing a blend of ‘Bhutanese tradition, nature, and modern living’, according to the announcement, to create a ‘modern Buddhist lifestyle destination’.
Basically, the designs feature low-density urban development. The Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary and the Royal Manas National Park will border the city. The city will be expansive, with 11 neighborhoods and 35 rivers and streams that run through the site. The region’s paddy fields are also in the design, which will protect these mindfulness city from monsoon season floods.
The city will serve as a gateway for tourists to explore the rest of Bhutan, according to the announcement. A set of nine bridges will serve as major landmarks. Each one dedicated to one of the country’s ‘gross national happiness domains’. And every bridge will have a function – one will act as a Vajrayana spiritual centre for glimpses into the daily practices of monks, one will be a healthcare centre, one a greenhouse, and one will even include an airport.
That sounds spectacular right. And theres more, the city’s design will also include dams, including one hydroelectric dam. Since Bhutan is the worlds first carbon negative country, they want to continue leading the way in climate change initiatives.
Developments in Gelephu
The announcement describes the dams as the balance between nature and culture, and they double as viewpoints for visitors and those on meditative walks. It all sounds rather impressive. What’s more is the mindfulness city of Gelephu already has tourism infrastructure like hotels. But in December, it reached its first milestone with the official opening of the region’s new airport.
If you want more updates on the mindfulness city, visit Bhutan’s tourism website.