Ura's 42-Metre Tenzhu Chorten in Bumthang Is Consecrated

By Best of Bhutan Research Desk · November 8, 2026 · 7 min read

The Ura chorten in Bumthang, a 42-metre stupa built by the people of Ura over 11 years, was consecrated on 7 November 2026. According to BBS, it has been named Tenzhu Chorten Chhenmo and is dedicated as an offering to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. His Royal Highness Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Ashi Yeatso Lhamo attended the ceremony, which included mask dances and cultural performances.

Construction started in 2015. The stupa stands below Ura village in Bumthang's Ura Gewog, on the East–West highway that most travellers take between Jakar and eastern Bhutan. If your itinerary crosses central Bhutan, you will now pass one of the largest stupas in the country.

Tenzhu Chorten Chhenmo at Ura, Bumthang. Picture: Bumthang Dzongkhag Administration, via BBS.

Key Facts at a Glance

What Happened on 7 November

BBS reported on 4 November that the stupa was complete and due to be consecrated on 7 November. Its follow-up report on 8 November confirmed the ceremony had taken place. Devotees, officials and residents came from across Bumthang.

The project coordinator told BBS the stupa is meant as a lasting relic of the Fourth King's body, speech and mind. Relics were installed inside before the consecration.

The timing is close to the Fourth Druk Gyalpo's birthday on 11 November, a national holiday in Bhutan.

Eleven Years in the Making

The project began in 2015 as a community effort by Ura Dozhi, the four villages of the Ura valley, to mark the Fourth King's 60th birthday. BBS has followed it since then:

• 2020: BBS reported that structural work was about 80% complete. Five landowners had given about two acres for the site. The coordinator said the community had received a royal grant of Nu 5 million. The plan was to fill the stupa with 100,000 small statues of Guru Dorji Drolo and 200,000 tsha-tshas (small clay votive offerings). The statues were being made at Shingkhar, about 15 km away.
• 2023: BBS reported that the outer structure was about 95% done. About 70,000 Dorji Drolo statues and 100,000 tsha-tshas were already inside. The Ura gup put the royal grant at Nu 7 million. The two figures may reflect different grants or different points in time; BBS did not reconcile them.
• May 2026: BBS reported that the structure was finished. The pinnacle and whitewashing were still to do.

Why so long? Every report gives the same reasons. Ura sits at about 3,100 metres, and the building season lasts roughly six months a year. Labour was short, villagers had to balance construction with farming, and COVID-19 stopped work for a period. No total cost has been published.

Is it the tallest chorten in Bhutan?

BBS described it in 2020 and 2023 as the tallest chorten in the country, and the largest Namgyel Chorten. The November 2026 reports call it the largest Du-dhuel Namgyel Chorten in the country, but do not repeat the "tallest" claim. We have not been able to confirm the ranking independently, so treat "tallest in Bhutan" as reported, not verified.

What a Namgyel Chorten Is

A chorten (stupa) is a Buddhist monument that holds relics and represents the Buddha's mind. Bhutanese chortens come in several styles. A Namgyel Chorten, or "victory" stupa, is linked in Buddhist tradition with long life and the removal of obstacles. That makes it a common choice when a stupa is built in honour of a person.

Large chortens are walked around clockwise. Locals often do several circuits while turning prayer wheels or saying mantras. Two other well-known chortens many visitors see are the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu and Chendebji Chorten on the road to Trongsa. Our stupa directory lists many more.

A Bhutanese chorten with prayer flags. Walk around chortens clockwise. Representative photo, not the Ura stupa.

What It Means for Travellers

• It is on the main road. In 2020 BBS described the stupa as a planned landmark on the East–West highway at the edge of the Ura valley. Any trip that drives from Jakar towards Mongar and eastern Bhutan passes Ura. Ask your guide to stop.
• Ura is worth a stop anyway. Ura is one of Bumthang's best-preserved villages, with stone houses and narrow lanes. Our Ura Doshi village page covers the village, and the Ura Lhakhang page covers its main temple.
• Pair it with the Ura Yakchoe festival. The Ura Yakchoe is held in spring, usually April or May. We run a Ura Yakchoe tour built around it.
• Plan for the altitude and cold. At about 3,100 metres, Ura is cold from November to March. Bring warm layers, even for a short stop.
• Dress and conduct. Wear long sleeves and long trousers or skirts at religious sites. Walk clockwise, do not climb on the structure, and ask your guide before taking photos of ceremonies.
• Entry rules are unchanged. International visitors still need a visa, a licensed guide and the Sustainable Development Fee. See our visa guide and SDF explainer.

Fitting Ura Into a Trip

Bumthang is in central Bhutan. Most visitors reach it by road from Punakha via Trongsa, or by domestic flight to Bathpalathang airport near Jakar.

Our Bumthang guide covers the main sites and Bumthang hotels lists where to stay. If you are going further east, read our case for going east and staying longer. For another new stupa site, see our guide to the 108 stupas in Gelephu, raised on 1 November 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new chorten in Ura, Bumthang?

It is a 42-metre Namgyel Chorten named Tenzhu Chorten Chhenmo, below Ura village in Bumthang. The Ura community built it as an offering to the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. It was consecrated on 7 November 2026.

How tall is the Ura chorten?

BBS gives the height as 42 metres, or about 138 feet, roughly 14 storeys.

Is the Ura chorten the tallest stupa in Bhutan?

BBS called it the tallest chorten in the country in 2020 and 2023. Its 2026 reports describe it as the largest Du-dhuel Namgyel Chorten in Bhutan. We have not seen an independent ranking.

Can tourists visit the Ura chorten?

Nothing published suggests it is closed to visitors. It stands beside the East–West highway at Ura, and travellers in Bhutan visit religious sites with their licensed guide. Follow normal dress and conduct rules.

How far is Ura from Jakar?

Ura is east of Jakar on the East–West highway towards Mongar. The drive usually takes about an hour and a half, depending on road conditions.

Sources

• BBS: "Ura's Tenzhu Chorten Chhenmo consecrated after more than a decade of construction," 8 November 2026.
• BBS: "Du-dhuel Namgyel Chorten in Bumthang completed after more than a decade," 4 November 2026.
• BBS: "Ura's Namgyel Chorten set for completion after prolonged delay," 13 May 2026.
• BBS: "Country's tallest stupa still under construction," 28 April 2023.
• BBS: "Construction of the tallest Chorten in the country to complete by next year, Ura," 14 September 2020.

All reporting on this stupa so far comes from BBS. We will update this post if Kuensel, The Bhutanese or the Bumthang Dzongkhag publish more details, such as opening arrangements or total cost. Corrections are welcome: get in touch.

Planning a trip through central Bhutan? Talk to us about an itinerary that includes Bumthang, Ura and the road east.