Travel to Asia’s Largest Ironwood Forest and Pink Quarts Mountain

Do you know that Asia’s largest ironwood forest and the pink quartz mountain are situated in Sri Lanka?

Don’t worry; if you don’t know, you can include it in your bucket list of your Sri Lanka travel plan.

Known as ‘Namal Uyana,’ this ironwood forest is a rare one, started planting in the 8th century AD during the King Devanampiythissa era and ended during the King Dappula’s reign.

Apart from the above two unique elements, the place has also been used as a sanctuary for Buddhist monks during the King Devanampiyathissa era in the 8th century.

Later it was used as a prison camp, where the punishment for the inmates was to plant ‘ironwood trees.’

The Ironwood Tree is an endemic plant to Sri Lanka, and the forest spans across 260 acres in extent.

The record says the pink quartz in this historical place has a history of more than 550 million years and has been used to build the famous Taj Mahal of India.

The Asia’s Largest Ironwood forest has also been used for centuries as a place of meditation by Buddhist monk as per the archeological remains and also as written in 1893 by HCP Bell, a government historian who worked in then Ceylon.

TRANSFORMATION INTO A NATIONAL ASSET

However, in the modern era past, this wonderful nature’s creation was forgotten until it was brought to attention by a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, Venerable Wanawasi Rahula Thero.

The Thero took the leadership to conserve this ecologically vital asset by joining hands with the environmentalists, local community, government agents, and the general public thus working towards preserving this national asset.

As per his influence, the government later brought this under the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) to ensure its continuous protection and management and also named it a ‘National Heritage Site.’

HOW TOURISTS CAN REACH THE ASIA’S LARGEST IRONWOOD FOREST

There are multiple modes you can travel to Namal Uyana from Colombo.

On average it will take you to travel to the location, which is situated in the Anuradhapura District and just 15 kilometers away from Dambulla, a city in the Central Part of Sri Lanka,

From Colombo your travel time will be around 4 to 5 hours.

The timings can slightly vary based on the mode of transport you take.

If it is a private car, you can be there around 4 hours, while with public transport, the travel time may slightly differ.

You can go by train (nearby town), bus, taxi, or your own vehicle to the touching distance of Namal Uyana.

If you’re visiting the place from any other part of the country apart from Colombo, still the travel time will be between 4 to 6 hours.

THE TIME NEEDED TO ENJOY THE IRONWOOD FOREST AND PINK QUARTERS MOUNTAIN?

Around 3 to 4 hours, where you start walking through the forest, enjoying the nature, wildlife, and archaeological remains, and then climb the pink quartz mountain.

TICKET PRICES AND HOW TO BUY

Tickets can be purchased by your travel agent or at the point of entry or via online booking.

The ticket price for an adult to tour the Ironwood Forest and Pink Quarters Mountain will cost you US$ 6, while for children it will be US$ 3.

A US dollar in Sri Lanka is valued around Rs. 300 plus.

CAUTION

Ensure that you do not ‘harm’ the Asia’s Largest Ironwood Forest and the Pink Quarters Mountain when you experience it.

No ‘Littering,’ No ‘Damaging’ or Even too much of ‘Noise’ is not welcomed by the natures’ asset.