Tumpat is situated at the end of the East Coast Line railway line operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malayan Railways) which links Kelantan to the southern and western part of Peninsular Malaysia.

Tumpat district was established on 1 January 1949, detaching from Kota Bharu metropolitan area.

Tumpat is the northernmost constituency in Kelantan, bordering Thailand across the Golok River to the west, Kota Bharu across the Kelantan River to the east, and Pasir Mas to the south, and the Thai district of Tak Bai to the west.

List of LMS district representatives in the State Legislative Assembly of Kelantan

Tumpat is perhaps famous for being the northern terminal of the KTM East Coast Line, which began in Gemas in Negeri Sembilan.