Namal Uyana Pink Quartz Mountain Range is one of the most beautiful and valuable natural resources of Sri Lanka. Pink Quartz Mountain Range of Sri Lanka is the largest of its kind in southern Asia. Same times this place holds a very important place in the history of Sri Lanka. History reveals that emperor Shajahan while constructing ‘Taj Mahal”, the 7th wonder of the world brought all the necessary materials which are rare, from different parts of the world and he used marbles from Namal Uyana Pink Quartz Mountains to make it incomparable. According to the history of Sri Lanka, the Emperor visited Sri Lanka to check on the quartz personally.
Namal Uyana is said to have been used as a monastery during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa 3rd century B.C. By the eighth century, during the reign of King Dapulu IV, it had been turned into a sanctuary, where people could flee from persecution and remain free, as long as they stayed within its confines. Several stone inscriptions giving details of the existence of the Namal Uyana and the sanctuary have been found in the Anuradhapura area.
Several researches were undertaken with regards to the quartz in the past, as to find out the formation of the quarts, historical value and other important information about the Namal Uyana Mountains. According to archeological research findings, this mountain range is having a history of more than 550 millions of years. The major changes to the Pink Quartz Mountain Range occurred in the Prag Crambiya era almost 500 million years back. The quartz deposit spreading over 105 hectares and the stones belong to a superior stone category. Another archaeological investigation revealed it to contain 250 million-years-old plant fossils.
Pink quartz in the mountains contains majority of Cylicon di-oxide (chemical name) along with other minerals which makes the color of the stones. The sand around the Quartz Mountains also shows the high concentration of same chemical. Quartz mainly made up of silicon dioxide (SIO2). In the middle of the earth, there are hot gases, and liquids and rocks explode out of the ground as magma lava. When this magma lava flows out, sometimes, portions of the liquid are retained in the internal spaces. These are formed into quartz. Quartz is a mixture of magma, lava and silicon dioxide and its cells are rectangular.
Mountain range consists of 7 mountains encircling the Namal Uyana Forest and mountain range is located 1,050 meters above sea level. At an overall view the top portion appears like misty i.e. clouded and with its pink color mixed with the white mist, it will give you a stunning look which differentiates this mountain from others. And if you go deeper to explore the diversities this range of mountains are having it will be an amazing experience. When you look at this row of mountains, you will come to understand that it is one of nature’s wonders. It is like 7 giant mountains guarding like pillars encircling the Namal Uyana Forest, the view is astonishing.
There are three beautiful water falls in the vicinity of the mountain range. These streams are flowing towards the Namal Uyana Forest and feeding the trees. This water is rich in minerals while it is brushing the mineral all the way to the Forest. This forest contains tree and plants with Ayurvedic medicinal values. the villagers around and people from far away land believes that drinking this water will cure various illnesses and give them physical perfection along with the mental satisfaction which one enjoys from the natural environment in this wonder land.
Namal Uyana, recently declared a National Heritage site, under the Department of Wildlife Conservation of Sri Lanka.
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