The Rose Quartz Mountain Range – referred to as the Jathika Namal Uyana by the locals – is a scenic series of pink quartz mountains that’re covered in a verdant stretch of ironwood forests – the largest collection of such forests found in Sri Lanka. The ironwood tree is actually endemic to Sri Lanka, so the site is extremely important from a conservation standpoint as well.
The Rose Quartz Mountain Range has a history that spans back over 550 million years! The forests that cover it are relatively recent addition by comparison. It is believed that the ironwood forest was first planted during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa in the 8th century AD. The forest was to serve as a sanctuary for the newly arrived Buddhist monks from India. Its purpose shifted in later centuries with certain rulers turning it into a prison camp where criminals would have to continuously work by planting Na trees.
The sanctuary is found about 7 kilometres away from the Madatugama junction that’s found along the Colombo-Anuradhapura highway. While the tall ironwood trees dominate the landscape here, scores of Na tree – the island’s national tree – can also be found here. Additionally, over 100 species of tropical plants, including 82 herbal species, thrive here in the sanctuary.
A trip here can net you some amazing views that will stick with you for years to come. Of course, to get the best views possible you’ll have to climb up to one of the mountain peaks that tower over the forest. The journey up there might seem a little taxing, but the reward is well worth all the effort you’ll have to put in.
