It has an area of approximately 2,308 sq. kms. The major portion of the district falls within the sub-tropical belt and lies at evevations from 200meters to 3,500 meters above sea level. The district is a producer of hard wood like teak, sal and sisoo used to create furniture.
 
In 1837 the British Political Officer Captain Pemberton took a route different from those taken by other early explorers and entered the kingdom from Samdrup Jongkhar.
 
The road from Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar, completed in the 1960s, enables the eastern half of the country to access and benefit from trade with the south as well as across the Indian border. There is little to see in this area, other than the busy market which straddles the border. Samdrup Jongkhar is a convenient exit town for tourists who have arranged to visit the neighboring Indian of Assam.
 
Dewathang 
Dewathang situated 18 kms. From Samdrup Jongkhar along the high way to Trashigang, used to have the office of the Gyadrung. It was also the site where, in 1884, the last battle with the British was fought. Jigme Namgyel , the father of the first king, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck, who led the Bhutanese troops put up a strong resistance against the British though ultimately signed the treaty of Sinchula with British in 1865.