Bhutan's Gelephu delegation begins 6-day visit to Assam, Meghalaya to boost regional ties

Bhutan delegation visits key Assam sites including IIT Guwahati, Umananda Island, and Hajo temple to strengthen regional ties
Scheduled to meet Assam CM, Chief Secretary, DGP, and customs officials to discuss development, trade, and connectivity prospects
Gelephu Mindfulness City project near Assam border expected to attract investments benefiting Kokrajhar, Chirang, and Bongaigaon districts

A nine-member delegation from Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City arrived in Guwahati on Saturday for a six-day official visit to Assam and Meghalaya. The visit began with their arrival at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport and is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, economic cooperation, and infrastructure understanding between Bhutan and the northeastern Indian states.

On the first day, the delegation visited the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati and the Hayagriva Madhava Mandir in Hajo, located in Kamrup district. These visits were part of their agenda to understand the region’s academic and cultural heritage. The team will continue their tour in Guwahati on Sunday with visits planned to the Assam State Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Umananda Island, the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, and the Royal Bhutan Consul General’s Office.

The group is scheduled to travel to Meghalaya on Monday. After their return to Assam on June 10, the Bhutanese delegation will meet with key state officials including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and the Chief Commissioner of Central GST, Central Excise, and Customs (North East Region).

On June 11, the delegation is set to visit the Kamakhya Temple, Pandu Port, and Royal Global University in Guwahati. They are scheduled to return to Bhutan the following day, concluding the six-day visit.

Gelephu Mindfulness City is being developed as a Special Administrative Region in Bhutan, located near the Assam border. It is envisioned to combine economic development with principles of sustainability and holistic living. The Assam Chief Minister had visited Bhutan in December 2024 to understand the development plan and explore potential regional benefits. He stated that while Assam would not build a twin city, the state aimed to complement the Gelephu project by encouraging investments in nearby districts such as Kokrajhar, Chirang, and Bongaigaon.

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