Druk Ugyen Samye Ling: Gelephu's Samye-Inspired Monastery
By Best of Bhutan Research Desk · October 12, 2026 · 8 min read
The conceptual design for Druk Ugyen Samye Ling, a large Buddhist monastery complex planned for Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) in southern Bhutan, was unveiled on 12 October 2026. BBS reported that the complex will be modelled on Samye Monastery in Tibet, cover more than 20 acres, and include 15 types of temples surrounded by 1,008 chortens. The estimated investment is Nu 5 billion. Construction is expected to start by the end of 2026, with completion targeted for 2029.
The design was presented by Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche, the project's patron. The design consultant told BBS it is a preliminary concept that will be refined further, and that it has not yet been submitted to the GMC Administration for approval. Treat the layout, numbers and dates as plans, not final commitments.
In short: Druk Ugyen Samye Ling is one of several royally approved spiritual projects in Gelephu. It is not open to visitors and will not be for several years. If you are travelling to Gelephu now, the sites you can actually visit are the new Project 108 stupas and the older sacred places around Sarpang.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | What has been announced |
|---|---|
| Project | Druk Ugyen Samye Ling — Buddhist spiritual and cultural complex |
| Location | Chuzergang Gewog, Sarpang district, within Gelephu Mindfulness City |
| Modelled on | Samye Monastery, Tibet (built 775–779 AD) |
| Patron | Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche |
| Site area | More than 20 acres (BBS, October 2026); over 25 acres (BBS, April 2026) |
| Layout | 15 types of temples surrounded by 1,008 chortens |
| Statues | 100,000 statues of Guru Ugyen Norlha planned |
| Estimated cost | Nu 5 billion |
| Royal approval | Royal Kasho granted 16 October 2025 |
| Ground-breaking | Scheduled for 10 April 2026 |
| Construction start | Expected by end of 2026 |
| Target completion | 2029 |
| Design status | Preliminary concept; not yet submitted to GMC for approval |
What Was Announced on 12 October
According to the BBS report, Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche said the monastery reflects His Majesty The King's wish for a Samye-inspired temple in Gelephu, intended as a place of prayer for peace and for reducing suffering.
The main elements of the design:
- Scale. More than 20 acres. An earlier BBS report, in April, put the site at over 25 acres.
- Temples and chortens. Fifteen types of temples set within a ring of 1,008 chortens. The original Samye is also laid out as a central temple surrounded by smaller shrines and chortens, inside a circular wall.
- Statues. The project plans to create 100,000 statues of Guru Ugyen Norlha, a form of Guru Rinpoche. Tenzin Jamtsho, Regional Director of Druk Ugyen Samye Ling Limited, told BBS the statues are an act of devotion and a way to seek Guru Rinpoche's blessings.
- Website. The organisation launched an official website alongside the design.
Namgay Dorjee of Namey Samey Studios, the design consultant, said the drawings will be revised until the Rinpoche is satisfied, and that the design still has to go to GMC for approval. No construction contractor has been announced.
How the Project Got Here
Druk Ugyen Samye Ling has been in the pipeline for a year:
October 2025 — royal approval. His Majesty The King, as Chairman of the GMC Board of Directors, approved Druk Ugyen Samye Ling on 16 October 2025, along with the Gelephu Maitreya Temple and a Tara Retreat Center. BBS and The Bhutanese both reported that the Royal Kashos (royal edicts) were handed over at Changangkha Lhakhang in Thimphu. BBS noted these three were in addition to eight spiritual projects approved earlier in 2025.
April 2026 — teachings and ground-breaking. BBS reported on 1 April that a ten-day oral transmission of Buddhist root texts, presided over by Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche, was under way at the site in Chuzergang Gewog, drawing thousands of devotees. A ground-breaking ceremony was scheduled for 10 April. Project Director Khenpo Tenzin Gyatso said the monastery would house sacred treasures and relics similar to those at Samye.
October 2026 — design unveiled. The conceptual design and cost estimate were made public, as described above.
Why Samye Matters
Samye, in central Tibet, is regarded as the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet. BBS dates its construction to 775–779 AD. Tradition holds that it was founded under the Tibetan king Trisong Detsen with the help of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), the teacher Bhutanese Buddhists revere as the second Buddha.
Samye Monastery in Tibet, the model for the Gelephu project. Photo via Wikimedia Commons. This is the original Samye, not Druk Ugyen Samye Ling. BBS has published images of the Gelephu design with its report.
That connection is why a Samye-inspired monastery carries weight in Bhutan. Guru Rinpoche is linked to many of the country's most visited sacred sites, including Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) and Kurjey Lhakhang in Bumthang. Our Lotus-Born Trail follows his sites across the country.
Bhutan also has temples from the same early period. Kichu Lhakhang in Paro and Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang are traditionally said to date from the 7th century, more than a hundred years before Samye. Both are regular stops on cultural tours.
Gelephu's Growing Spiritual Quarter
Druk Ugyen Samye Ling is part of a wider push to make spiritual sites a core feature of Gelephu Mindfulness City, the special administrative region Bhutan is building on its southern border with Assam.
The most visible of these is Project 108: 108 Jangchub Chortens, each 15 metres tall, to be raised in a single day on 1 November 2026 along the Mao Chhu river. We covered the dates, road closures and visitor rules in Project 108: Gelephu raises 108 stupas on November 1, and you can explore the structure of each stupa in our interactive Jangchub Chorten 3D model.
With the Maitreya Temple and Tara Retreat Center also approved, Gelephu is set to have a cluster of new religious sites within a few years. For a broader view of what is confirmed and what is still proposed in GMC, see our Gelephu Mindfulness City explainer and our guide to Gelephu's geography.
Monks at a monastery in Bhutan. Representative image only — not Druk Ugyen Samye Ling, which has not yet been built.
What It Means for Travellers
You cannot visit it yet. The site is at the planning and early ground-preparation stage. With completion targeted for 2029, and the design still awaiting GMC approval, it is not a stop to plan around in 2026 or 2027.
Gelephu is worth considering now for other reasons. Once the Project 108 crowds have gone in early November, the 108 stupas become a permanent site. They can be combined with the Sarbang sacred sites near Gelephu, which are also linked to Guru Rinpoche. See our Gelephu destination page for the basics.
Getting there. Gelephu is currently reached by road from Thimphu via Wangdue and Tsirang, or overland from Assam. The planned Gelephu International Airport is still under construction; we covered the latest step in Gelephu International Airport: airfield contract awarded.
Costs and paperwork. Visitors to Gelephu need a Bhutan visa and pay the standard Sustainable Development Fee. The current USD 100 per night rate for most international visitors runs to 31 August 2027.
Avoid the first week of November in the south. Gelephu hotels are close to full for Project 108, and road restrictions apply from 30 October to 4 November. If your trip is in that window, focus on western and central Bhutan instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Druk Ugyen Samye Ling?
Druk Ugyen Samye Ling is a planned Buddhist monastery complex in Gelephu Mindfulness City, southern Bhutan, modelled on Samye Monastery in Tibet. It is under the patronage of Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche and received royal approval in October 2025.
Where is the Samye monastery being built in Bhutan?
In Chuzergang Gewog, Sarpang district, inside the Gelephu Mindfulness City special administrative region near the border with Assam, India.
How much will Druk Ugyen Samye Ling cost?
BBS reported an estimated investment of Nu 5 billion. The design is still preliminary, so the final figure could change.
When will Druk Ugyen Samye Ling be completed?
Construction is expected to begin by the end of 2026, with completion targeted for 2029. The design has not yet been approved by the GMC Administration.
Can tourists visit Druk Ugyen Samye Ling?
Not yet. The site is not built. Visitors to Gelephu can see the Project 108 stupas after 1 November 2026 and the Sarbang sacred sites nearby.
Sources
- BBS, Druk Ugyen Samye Ling design unveiled, 12 October 2026
- BBS, Druk Ugyen Samye Ling project set to begin with ground-breaking on April 10, 1 April 2026
- BBS, His Majesty The King grants Royal Kashos for three new spiritual landmarks in Gelephu Mindfulness City, 17 October 2025
- The Bhutanese, Three additional spiritual projects receive Royal Edicts in Gelephu Mindfulness City, 18 October 2025
Plans may change as the design is reviewed. If you have updated information from the project or the GMC Administration, please get in touch.
Want to combine Gelephu's new spiritual sites with Paro, Thimphu and Punakha? Talk to us about a cultural itinerary that fits the season.