With more than 120,000 people registered to visit Gelephu Mindfulness City for the raising 108 Stupas on November 1, accommodation has become a major part of the preparations. With hotels already fully booked, tent service providers, residents and the GMC are working to provide temporary places for visitors to stay.
According to the Hotel Association of Gelephu, the town has about 62 hotels with a usual capacity of around 1,100 guests.
With hotels fully booked, some are increasing their capacity by adding extra beds and mattresses to accommodate more visitors.
Thinley Jamtsho, Chairman of the Hotel Association of Gelephu, said hotels with available space are increasing their bed capacity to help businesses and ensure guests do not face accommodation problems.
He said the hotels have increased their capacity from 1,100 to nearly 2,000 beds.
Beyond hotels, tent accommodation is emerging as another major option for visitors. According to the Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority, tent accommodation is being planned for around 80,000 people across various locations in Gelephu.
One of the largest sites is behind Ugyen Norlha Temple. Spread across about 19 acres, the site is being prepared to accommodate around 10,000 people. Workers are currently pitching tents and constructing toilets and other facilities.
Harka Gurung, a tent service provider in Gelephu, said he plans to accommodate around 10,000 people at the site. So far, around 500 to 600 people have registered for his services, while inquiries continue to come in.
He said the site will offer about 15 varieties of tents to cater to different customers.
Like Harka, around 18 tent sites of different sizes are being developed across Gelephu. Together, these privately operated sites are expected to accommodate about 50,000 people.
Some providers are also offering alternative accommodation using locally available materials.
Tshering Wangdi, a tent service provider in Gelephu, said his site will offer an eco-lodge built using locally available materials such as bamboo, with services provided at a minimal rate. He expects the site to accommodate around 2,000 people.
Depending on the package and charges, tent sites will offer facilities such as food, water, electricity, security, Wi-Fi and toilets. Some will also have food stalls and entertainment areas for visitors. Tents cost a minimum of Nu 650 per night per person.
For visitors bringing their own tents, GMC will provide land near the fishery area, with a planned capacity of around 30,000 people. Water, electricity and toilets will be available free of charge.
With hotels increasing their bed capacity and tent sites preparing to receive thousands of visitors, Gelephu is expanding its accommodation options ahead of the November 1 event.
Passang Dorji/Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
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