Hidden away amongst Na trees, the national tree of Sri Lanka, is Asia’s largest rose quartz mountain, Jathika Namal Uyana.
Locals and tourists visit Jathika Namal Uyana to explore the Na ironwood forests, which are bursting with life, the archeological ruins of an ancient monastery, and see the iconic pink mountain.
The mountain range appears pink due to the large amount of pink quartz which is estimated to be around 550 million years old. It has become a place of spiritual significance and is associated with love and healing.
Below we share our experience of visiting the rose quartz mountain in Sri Lanka, including where to park, the best time to visit and what to expect… like how pink are the mountains really?
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Dambulla Rose Quartz Mountain Location?
Jathika Namal Uyana is located in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province, approximately 20km northeast of Dambulla town and 25km from the famous Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
The park sits near the village of Madatugama, making it easily accessible via the A9 highway. From Kandy, it’s approximately 110km (2.5 hours by car) and from Anuradhapura 45km (1 hour by car).
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This location makes Jathika Namal Uyana an ideal stop when traveling between Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle sites. Whether you’re heading from Anuradhapura south to Sigiriya or from Kandy northward to the ancient cities, the rose quartz mountain provides a perfect natural break.
How To Get To Dambulla’s Rose Quartz Mountain Range?
By Bus
Regular bus services run to Dambulla from major cities. Once in Dambulla the site is 8km away. Either hire a tuktuk taxi (1000 LKR) or take a local bus towards Galkiriyagama/Madatugama and ask your driver where to get off.
Private Vehicle
The most convenient way to travel to the mountain range is via a private taxi or car. We hired a tuktuk and loved the scenic drive through rural villages. If you want to hire a tuktuk, we recommend tuktukrental.com.
If you’re coming from Colombo Airport check out this Airport Transfer to Dambulla.
Parking
If you have your own vehicle there is a free car park next to the visitors centre. We left our tuktuk here with the rain covers down to protect our bags from the monkeys, there were also two workers here that kindly watched our tuktuk.
What To Expect At The Rose Quartz Mountain and Our Experience
Having not read much online before we arrived we didn’t quite know what to expect from Asia’s largest rose quartz mountain range.
Once parked up you buy your ticket from the visitors centre which costs $6. This is the only place we saw that accepts dollars but we paid in LKR and ended up paying around 1800 LKR each.
Cross the road and head through Sri Lanka’s largest ironwood forest. Here the shade offers immediate relief from the sun and you’re instantly surrounded by rich nature from 75 species of ants to various snakes and lizards. We recommend wearing bug spray for your walk just to keep all the critters away.
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The walk through the forest to the pink mountain takes about 20 minutes. It is mainly on a boardwalk making the walk easy however at the end there is a steep incline. We enjoyed walking through the dappled sunlight, past a bubbling stream with a shimmering rose quartz riverbed and explored the monastery ruins.
We made it to the mountain where the path ceases and you’re left to scramble up. You can clamber all the way to the top where a buddha statue sits.
As you ascend the pink quartz becomes clearer and less tainted by muddy shoes. We only made it half way up due to the blistering heat and the fact we’d worn flip flops, trainers with good grip would be more suitable, but we could still look over the mountain range. Although the photos we had seen were heavily edited we could see the pink tint within the rock… just don’t expect Barbie coloured mountains!
We made our way back through the forest to the visitors centre where we looked around the ‘bookshop’ which shared the history of Jathika Namal Uyana.
The History of Jathika Namal Uyana
Jathika Namal Uyana has been established as a nature reserve to protect Sri Lanka’s largest ironwood forest ecosystem. Since ancient times the site has been regarded as important and local communities traditionally use the forest for medicinal plants and spiritual practices.
Now the main draw for tourists is the rose quartz mountain range which is the largest in Asia.
Geological Significance
The rose quartz mountain range is estimated to be over 550 million years old. As you explore the quartz in the rock and riverbeds you can see varying shades of pink which depend on the mineral composition and weathering.
The exposed part of the mountain that can be explored has become grey-ish in colour due to the exposure to UV and constant walking, although in the light the pink still glimmers through!
Spiritual Significance
Rose quartz is the stone of unconditional love and often used in crystal healing practices. The site attracts visitors who seek spiritual rejuvenation and meditations and within the serene forest we understand why this place has gained spiritual significance.
Monastery Ruins
Along the route to the mountain you will pass the remnants of an ancient Buddhist monastery which dates back to King Devanampiya Tissa’s era (3rd century BCE). It is believed the site was used for meditation and you’ll see remains through the forest area.
Biodiversity & Wildlife In The Na Forests
This is Asia’s largest ironwood (Na tree) forest ecosystem and is home to all the native Sri Lankan snakes, several endemic lizards and 72 different medicinal plants. Ironwood trees can live for hundreds of years creating an ancient ecosystem of unique flora and fauna. This place is beautiful and magical!
Best Time To Visit The Rose Quartz Mountain Range
The best time to visit the Rose Quartz mountain range is during the dry season which runs from December to April. During the wet season the mountain becomes slippery and hard to climb.
We also advise you to go in the morning (8am-9am) before the day heats up, we arrived at mid-day and although the forest provides shade the mountain is open making the climb hot and uncomfortable.
Rose Quartz Mountain Common Questions
Best Places To Stay In Dambulla
$ Budget
Menara Green Inn
Menara Green Inn offers private rooms with bathrooms, a dining area and garden views. The hosts are super friendly and provide a traditional breakfast. It is also just a 9-minute walk from Dambulla Cave Temple.
$$ Mid-Range
Eden Grand
The Eden Grand offers family rooms with air-con, balconies and private bathrooms. The hotel has an onsite restaurant that serves a variety of cuisines and a delicious breakfast. The hotel is only 3km from Dambulla Cave Temple .
$$$ High-End
Jetwing Lake
On a cliff and nestled within a coconut plantation, you can find the luxury resort of Anantara Peace Haven. We’re sold on being welcomed by traditional raban drums and sent off by conch shell blowers but you also get individual plunge pools, a personal butler and a beautiful villa!
Spacing
Final Thoughts On Jathika Namal Uyana
Overall, we enjoyed our visit to Asia’s largest rose quartz mountain range. While the mountains may not be the vibrant pink of heavily filtered Instagram photos, they do glisten beautifully in natural sunlight, revealing the subtle rose-color gems that have formed over 550 million years.
The walk through the ironwood forest allows for relief from the midday sun as well as an insight into the rich biodiversity in Sri Lanka.
We think this makes the perfect break while travelling between Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle cities.
Have you visited Jathika Namal Uyana? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.
