Ṭâleqân

Taleqan lies in the country east of Kunduz, at the northern foot of the Hindu Kush. Its old settlement occupied a river valley amid the approaches to the highlands of Badakhshan. Marco Polo described a place called Taican, identified with Taleqan, as a market where provisions could be obtained. He also remarked on mountains of salt nearby, whose valuable product drew people from a wide surrounding area. The valley thus lay between fertile country and the rugged heights to the south.