The town is in the highlands of western Sumatra, situated on the shores of Lake Laut Tawar.

Takengon residents comprise various tribes and ethnicities, the majority of which is Gayo (Gayo: urang Gayô), its indigenous inhabitants.. Additionally, there are Acehnese, Javanese, Batak, Minangkabau, Karo, Mandailing, and Chinese Indonesians.

During the 11th century, a Gayo kingdom known as Linge existed near Takengon in Central Aceh.

[3] Following Indonesian independence, Takengon was organised as the administrative seat of Central Aceh Regency, which initially also included modern Gayo Lues and Bener Meriah until they were split out in 1974 and 2003, respectively.

[4] Takengon has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with moderate to heavy rainfall year-round.