Where Gelephu Mindfulness City located and how was it established

Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) is a visionary urban development located in southern Bhutan, along the border with the Indian state of Assam. Spanning one million acres (about 4,000 km²)—roughly 10% of Bhutan’s total land area—it is one of the most ambitious city-building projects in the region.

Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) is:

  • Located in Bhutan’s southern plains, bordering the Indian state of Assam. It spans about one million acres (approximately 4,000 km²), covering around 10% of Bhutan’s total land area.
  • Established in December 2024 through a Royal Charter, which formally created GMC as a Special Administrative Region (SAR).
  • Governed under a unique and highly autonomous structure. By Royal mandate, GMC holds full executive and legislative authority, along with an independent judiciary, giving it substantial self-governing powers separate from Bhutan’s standard administrative framework.

Established by Royal Charter in December 2024, GMC has been designated a Special Administrative Region (SAR) with a high degree of autonomy. Under a direct Royal mandate, the city is granted full executive and legislative powers, as well as an independent judiciary, enabling it to operate with its own legal and governance framework.

In essence, GMC is designed as a self-contained, legally empowered city-region with significant autonomy, created directly under the authority of the Bhutanese monarchy.

GMC is envisioned as a global hub that integrates mindfulness, sustainability, innovation, and economic development, while remaining aligned with Bhutan’s core values, including Gross National Happiness. Its governance structure and scale position it as a unique experiment in future-focused urban planning and administration.

Where Gelephu Mindfulness City located and how was it established

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