'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎246r] (496/610)

of the track via Qustlnlar, these tracks are generally passable
for mules.
A list, of the principal tracks is attached to the route report.
Route No. 8. From Kazvin to Rudisar via Gavanehkul and
Pul-i-Rud.
This is the shortest summer route from Kazvin to the
Caspian, but is considered bad beyond (i.e,-North of) the Shah-
rud valley and is less used than Nos. 7 and 9. Convoys of
mules from villages of Ishkever district around the sources
of the Pul-i-Rud are, however, fairly numerous.
From Kazvin this road goes up into the hills along the
narrow valley above the reservoir. It is stony in parts, but
the ascent is gradual except for the last mile up to Zirishk,
stage 1 , which is situated on a plateau on the west of the
valley. Beyond the village the road rises over open country to
the Zirishk ridge at about 7,500'. Just north of the ridge it
forks. The left hand branch via Falar (70 houses), 8 miles
from Zirishk, leads down to Dehdushab Pole bridge over the
Shahrud, 11 miles, and goes up the right bank to Shahristan
15 miles. This is a detour necessitated when the Shahrud
is in flood. The direct road descends a valley to Sapuhin,
keeps along the hillside and crosses a low ridge to the west
out of the valley, and descends to Fanifin.
The surface is very fair, but the last two miles of the descent
are steep. From Fanifin it crosses the Shahrud by a ford to
Shahristan at 12 miles, where the Naini Rud, a fair sized tri
butary, comes down from the north. From Shahristan, about
2,600', the road ascends the Naini Rud ravine by Razmian
(house of Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Sa’id), Hir, and Viar up to Gavanehkul at
about 10,000', descends to the headwaters of the Pul-i-Rud by
Laspu in Ishkever, and follows this valley down to the coast
in the district of Siyahristaq.
From Viar to Gavanehkul, a distance of about 8 miles, the
gradients are reported to be severe, the path narrow and in
places overhanging a precipice, and the surface very bad, and
the Gavanehkul has earned the nickname of the ‘ kafan bekul ’
(don your shroud). The descent on the north side is easier.
In stage 5 down the Pul-i-Rud ravine through the £ Miyan-
band ’ the surface is described as very bad.
From villages at every stage. The districts on both sides Supplies,
of the Gavanehkul are fairly populous.