Bhutanese donors have contributed Nu 7.25 million (approximately USD 75,100) and 6.925 grams of gold towards the gilding of the Shivalaya Yagyaswar Mahadev Mandir in Gelephu, southern Bhutan.
According to an update on the Golden Mandir fundraising platform dated 7 October 2026, the appeal has received contributions from 1,869 donors, including 1,865 Bhutanese and four international contributors. Launched on 7 September, the fundraising campaign will continue until 31 October, with the gilding work scheduled for completion ahead of a celebration on 1 November.
Built as a royal gift from King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to the Hindu community of Sarpang, the temple was inaugurated on 25 July 2018 and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The project involves gilding the temple’s shikhara, exterior structures and selected interior elements. The temple grounds will remain restricted while the work is underway.
The initiative follows a royal command to develop the mandir as a major religious landmark within Gelephu Mindfulness City. Approved donations are also eligible for tax deductions under Bhutan’s Income Tax Act 2025, subject to applicable limits and conditions. The temple’s completion is scheduled to coincide with other religious initiatives in Gelephu, including the planned completion of 108 Jangchub chortens along the Mao River on 1 November.