A foothill sub-divisional smalll town in the south-east corner of Kalimpong District. Gorubathan sub-division is demarcated by river Jaldhaka with neighbouring country Bhutan in the east, Sikkim State in the north with dense forest of Rachela Range, Kalimpong Block I&II in the west and the vast plain areas of Jalpaiguri District in a southern part. Gorubathan is abounded with all natural gifts like virgin forests, hills, plateaus, streams, floras and faunas etc. In politically Gorubathan is divided into 11 Gram Panchayats The climate is moderate and it is neither too hot in the summer and nor too cold in the winter season. How the nomenclature ‘Gorubathan’ was started is still controversial but due to vast grazing land and rearing of huge cattles in the open plain land of this area in earlier time must have started calling the place as Gorubathan (herds of cattle) in Nepali language by the local people. Some say that this place must have been dominated by the Gurus (priests) with their deity and supernatural powers in earlier times and subsequently started calling Gorubathan.

Lepchas who are the original people of the Darjeeling Hills claimed that Gorubathan is word derived from Lepcha Language “Gobathoak” which means to confront the enemies from two sides. It is said that Lepchas Last King Pano Gaebo Achyok had built Dalim fort to protect his Kingdom east from Bhutanese and South from Bengal. Another meaning of the Gobathok means Goba represents the name of Gaeboo or thok means to block. Gaeboo Achyok built Dalim Fort to block the enemies.Whatever may be the reason behind the nomenclature, Gorubathan was part and parcel of Bhutanese kingdom from 1871 AD to 1864. In course of extention of territory they captured it from the Last Lepcha King Gaeboo Achyok who had built fort at Dalim and Longsyol in seventeenth century. As per the local fable the Bhutanese brutally killed the Lepcha King and his Queen whose spirit could be seen wandering in the Fort areas till later period.

The Bhutanese kingdom had extended their territory in the entire hilly regions upto Kalimpong in the northern sector and upto Buxaduars in the southern sector. Gorubathan was one of their border territories in the western sector for watching the advancing enemies. However a fierce battle took place between the soldiers of British East India Company and Bhutanese armies to capture the Fort of Dalm Gari and ultimately killed the Bhutanese armies and destroyed the Fort with their mighty canons beyond recognition in the year 1865. From the period the dominance of Bhutan in this region was brought to end and the British took their strong hold. The British cleared many dense forests of this area and judging the suitable climatic condition started planting tea bushes which had a great market in Europe in those days.

They brought cheaper labors like Adhibasis, hard workers from Ranchi and Nepal and engaged them to clear the dense forest. Gradually the communicable roads were made by the British and this place saw the first light of development. Although the British had to leave India in the year 1947 after independence but the roads and the beautiful tea plantations started by them remained the economical backbone as well as means of subsistence to the local people. The first Block Development Office was established in the year 1962. Total population of the Gorubathan is 42,832 according to 2011 cencus .Today habituated by Nepalese, Lepchas, Bhutais, Adivasis , Bangalese Gorubathan is becoming the centre of tourism, educational institutions etc. Main income source of the people are crops like tea, nuts, black cardamom, brooms, ginger and other fruits and vegetable. Vast banks of Chel river has enhanced the beauty of Gorubathan. Ruins of Dalim fort built by Lepchas Last King Gaeboo Achyok is located six km far from the Gorubathan’s main centre. Dalim Tar is nearby village . Gorubathan Haat is considered as a largest Haat in Darjeeling District. Beautiful green tea gardens, forests, green hills ,plateaus, plains and some historical places could make Gorubathan’s popularity. Recently Gorubathan has started its new journey in education. Such as Gorubathan Govt. General Degree Collage has already been established and new IIT Collage Building is under Construction. Besides this there is numerous education institutes run by Govt. and Private body.