Bhutan is quietly reshaping its global footprint with an ambitious project: the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC). This week’s Defence Mantra unpacks how the Himalayan kingdom’s vision is not just spiritual, but deeply strategic — and crucially, it has India’s full support. Nitin A Gokhale was in the region recently and met people from both nations.
GMC is being built along Bhutan’s southern border with Assam, and India is directly involved in key connectivity projects like the Kokrajhar–Gelephu rail line, Jogighopa multimodal park, and expanded air and river access. Rather than worrying about Chinese encirclement or Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) pressure, Bhutan has sent a clear signal: its trusted partner remains India.
Set across 1,000 sq km, GMC blends Gross National Happiness with global capital, offering a new hub for sustainable investment, green energy, wellness tourism, and digital finance.
With its own legal and financial framework—drawing from Singapore and Abu Dhabi—Bhutan hopes to attract global players, especially from Central Asia, the Gulf, and ASEAN.
This is a new frontier of diplomacy, economy, and soft power. In this conversation, we explore what Gelephu means for Bhutan, the region, and why India is key to its success.
