Leila Kuh, a beautiful tourist attraction

Leila Kuh or Leile Kuh, according to locals, is a region near Langeroud in the province of Gilan, north of Iran. It attracts many visitors every year. Some believe that its name is taken from Lyashah which a girl name meaning “Lecco King” or the girl’s king or king's daughter. Some know Lyashah as the daughter of the ancient kings in the east of Gilan whose name and prowess in battle with Arabs are mentioned in history books.
There are coffee shops and hookah homes on the paths and foothills of the mountain which have turned it to a hub for hubble-bubble smokers. Ali Abad, Malat, Kumle and the beauty beyond the mountain in Otaghvar have made it a hidden paradise in Iran. The enchanting land is home to rice fields and a river full of fish.
It is situated in the beginning of Langeroud , Farmandari square, right hand, the first street from Lahijan.
From the square of Farmandari to Leila Kuh square, there is about a 3-kilometr paved road which leads off to a magnificent village and then to Kumle. There is a dirt road, passing through dense tea gardens ,which connects the square of Leila Kuh to the ridge of Ata Kuh. When it’s the season for harvesting tea, dual differential cars would move on the road. After an hour of walking you’ll reach the ridge. After half an hour on the path of Pakub through tea gardens and forests, you’ll get to the peak of Atakuh. The peak with a height of 700 meters above sea level is among the highest in Langeroud and Lahijan and overlooks Langeroud from northeast and Lahijan from northwest.
Over the peak there are telecommunications and broadcasting towers; that’s why the locals call it Dakal(tower). To climb, there are several paths from Langroud; the most famous and general one is the road of Leila Kuh from the square of Leila Kuh. Two paths lead off to the peak.
The first departure: moving from the villages of Leila Kuh and Dioshel
There are also subsidiary paths to reach it which you can take if you are familiar with the region. All the paths ending up to the peak run through tea gardens, citrus trees and forest which would make an enjoyable and memorable walk.
If you move on the ridge, you will get to have beautiful and eye-catching views from the city of Langeroud through valleys, plains and the surrounding mountains which would fascinate everyone. If it’s clear and sunny you will even see a wide body of water, the Caspian Sea, in a far distance.
Beauty and exhilaration of the path can’t be put into words especially in spring and summer when the freshness and greenness of tea gardens and forests are at the highest extent.
Note: if you are not familiar with the mountains, the only direct way to access the peak with a guide who knows the area ( consult with him before moving) is the general path as the rest leads off to 2-way road which make it difficult to find the true one. Furthermore, there is a risk of getting lost in the forest or road that you don’t know where it starts and where it ends. If you’d like to try new subsidiary paths make sure to head off in the morning so you won’t get stuck as a result of getting lost at night.
The second departure: to climb you can use the path of the village of Galesh Kalam. About 500 meters from the square of Leila Kuh towards the top , you’ll reach a two-way road . The direct way is the general path of Leila Kuh and with a 45-minute walk on the left way you’ll get the village of Galesh Kalam.
The road is paved and you can drive up to the village. Pass by the shrine (Imamzade) in the end of the village and up from the walking path towards the right to reach the ridge and then over to the towers.
Note: the best path, in terms of beauty and quality, is to go up through the Dioshel village and the subsidiary road of Agha Sayyed Jalil and come down from the first path i.e. the general road of Leila Kuh. You’ll come across springs and streams in this path some of which are not there all year round. Going through the general path you‘ll reach a freshwater spring flowing down permanently in the end of the path before the ridge. On the Dioshel path you can use drinkable water of the river to fill your bottles. Since there are telecommunications towers you can have good cell phone service throughout the way except for a few blind spots.