Carved with mathematical precision onto a vertical rock face within the ancient royal gardens of Ranmasu Uyana (The Royal Goldfish Park) in Anuradhapura, Sakwala Chakraya is one of the most enigmatic petroglyphic artifacts on Earth. Popularized internationally as "The Stargate of Sri Lanka", this six-foot circular petroglyph has ignited intense debate among archaeologists, astronomers, and alternative historians for over a century.
H.C.P. Bell's Discovery & Astronomical Significance
The petroglyph was first systematically documented in 1901 by the founding Archaeological Commissioner of Ceylon, Harry Charles Purvis (H.C.P.) Bell. In his official annual report, Bell described the disc as a Sakwala Chakraya—an ancient astronomical map or cosmogram of the universe:
"This ancient astronomical chart, perhaps the oldest in the world, is of extraordinary interest... It depicts the central cosmic axis surrounded by concentric rings of planets, water, and concentric realms of existence."
The diagram consists of seven concentric rings, divided by precise radial lines into distinct segments containing bizarre geometric glyphs, aquatic creatures, solar discs, and stylized symbols completely unlike any traditional Buddhist or Hindu iconography found anywhere else in Sri Lanka.
Location & Visiting Guidelines
- Exact Location: Positioned within Ranmasu Uyana, directly between the ancient Tissa Wewa reservoir embankment and Isurumuniya rock temple.
- Access: A tranquil 10-minute walk through shaded stone ruins, royal bathing pools, and gravity-fed water channels.
- Admission: Accessible via the standard Anuradhapura Cultural Triangle ticket; entry through Ranmasu Uyana park path is free of separate charges.
- Optimal Time: Late afternoon (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM) when low angled sunlight illuminates the weathered petroglyphic incisions on the granite face.
The Stargate Lore & Advanced Ancient Energy
In alternative Hela research and international ancient technology circles, Sakwala Chakraya is theorized to have functioned as an ancient portal, frequency resonance device, or planetary navigation map used by advanced pre-Vedic civilizations connected to King Ravana.
Proponents of this view point to the immediate surrounding infrastructure: four monolithic rock-cut seats facing the chart, and complex subterranean hydraulic conduits flowing directly beneath the rock face from the massive Tissa Wewa reservoir, which may have served an acoustic, cooling, or electromagnetic function.
How to Experience Ranmasu Uyana
Visiting Sakwala Chakraya is an unmissable highlight when touring Anuradhapura. After admiring the world-famous rock carvings of the Isurumuni Lovers, walk through the northern gate into Ranmasu Uyana to inspect the royal stone baths and stand before this mesmerizing cosmic diagram.