Gelephu

Gelephu is a town in Sarpang District in Bhutan. It is located on the Indian border, about 30 km to the east of Sarpang, the Dzongkhag headquarters, and has a population of 9,199 as per 2005 census. It is one of the road entry points into Bhutan from India. Phuntsholing to its west and Samdrup Jongkhar to its east are two other road entry points into Bhutan.HistoryHistory of Gelephu dates back to 1960s when primitive settlement was shifted from the banks of Mao Chhu to the present area, which used to be known as Hati Sahar (Elephant infested place).Planning areaGelephu Thromde has 11.52 km2 planning boundary area which can be increased further. It has 6 sub zones (Demkhong)listed as 1. Trashiling, 2. Namkhaling, 3. Jampeling, 4. Rabtengling, 5. Samdrupling, 6. Sonam Gatsel. Core market area is very close to the Indo-Bhutan border. Urban Planner Ashish Kumar Chauhan is the core planner while delineating the boundaries of Industrial Area Plan and Local Area Plan 4 & 5. Gelephu is located at about 30 km to the east of Sarpang, the Dzongkhag Headquarters. Though, Sarpang is the administrative centre for the Dzongkhag, Gelephu, due to various factors, has prospered and developed as a market town serving the hinterland.The Sarpang-Gelephu Zone offers unique opportunities for Bhutan, as well as for the citizens within the services catchment area. The geographical setting of the town with relatively flat terrain, close proximity and well established connectivity with India, and its location as a nodal connection for the central parts of Bhutan, makes the place one of the preferred locations for future development.