The large, but hardly bustling, border town of Gelephu is the gateway to south-central Bhutan. It's a pleasant enough town but is really just a place to overnight before leaving or entering Bhutan.

Sarpang is on the southern border and a large part of the district is protected within the Royal Manas National Park, Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary and jigme Singye Wangchuck national park. Gelephu is the major town within the dzongkhag and is an important border town with India.