SITE PREPARATION BEGINS FOR GELEPHU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN BHUTAN

Earthworks and land preparation are now underway for the Gelephu International Airport – the first major infrastructure component of the Gelephu Mindfulness City masterplan. At the groundbreaking ceremony, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema, and Their Royal Highnesses Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel and Gyalsey Ugyen Wangchuck were joined by over a thousand Desuup and Gyalsup volunteers to offer zhabtog – a tradition of voluntary service that has shaped communities and nation-building throughout Bhutanese history. His Majesty addressed the nation at the project site, calling the airport a vital link for Bhutan’s future and a legacy for generations to come. Rooted in Bhutanese culture and ecology, the airport design draws inspiration from the nation’s four forest ecosystems – evergreen oak, cool broadleaf, warm broadleaf, and subtropical – and will incorporate traditional craftsmanship, landscape zones of native flora, and future connections to the broader Mindfulness City. Main construction of the new airport will begin in April 2026, with inauguration set for December 2029.