Ternoshora Lada
A sacred place of power in the Carpathians
About Ternoshorska Lada
Historical Landmark
The rock complex on the southern slope of Mount Ternoshora 990 m), near the Carpathian village of Snidavka (Bezulka hamlet), is an ancient pagan sanctuary and observatory of our ancestors. The highlanders of the past worshipped stones. They gave them human or animal forms, moved them, oriented them toward cardinal directions, and encoded within their understanding of the universe.
Tens of thousands of years ago, the locals inscribed their sacred knowledge about the annual solar cycle, the sky and the earth, the life-giving bond of male and female energies, and the right time to celebrate beginning of the New Year or welcome the newborn sun. Thus, Ternoshora Lada became a natural temple for our ancestors.
Place of Power
Scientists have confirmed that our ancestors did not choose sites for sanctuaries and temples at random – they selected locations at the intersections of the Earth’s energy lines. Here, you enter a space of high vibrations that positively influence your state of being and health. Many visitors to Lada confirm that this place holds a special power.
Tune into your feelings: a surge of energy or drowsiness, unusual feelings in the body, calmness (or its opposite) – these are ways to receive answers to your questions, intentions, dreams, or simply to express gratitude to the space and higher forces for all that you have. This is what our ancestors did. This is how we revive our ancient tradition – to celebrate life in places of power, and beyond.
Carpathian Serenity
The Journey to the Sanctuary
The path to the sanctuary is a joy in itself. On your way to Lada, you’ll cross gentle mountain streams, breathe in the spirit of the Carpathian forest, feel the cool mist of the Ternoshora Huk waterfall, and refresh yourself in the Nymphs’ Pool.
The Bezulka River’s Oval Terrace
The oval terrace of the Bezulka River, which flows along the southern slope of Ternoshorska Lada, offers a breathtaking view. According to researchers, it was formed approximately 11,000 years ago. Along its path, the river carved into the mountain wall what is known as the Breakthrough Gates – a natural formation that looks like a mystical passage into another world. Beyond these gates begin the sacred realms of Lada.
Created
by humans
The 10.4-meter figure of Lada was shaped
by human hands approximately 40,000 years ago
Mystery
for Scientists
To this day, scientists remain puzzled by how
the 8-ton head of the figure was placed
Legend
of New Life
According to legend, Lada helps
bring new life into the world
Astronomical
Sanctuary
Ternoshorа Lada is considered an astronomical
sanctuary, interconnected with other places
of power throughout the Carpathians
Energy
Site
The sanctuary is regarded as one of the most powerful
places of spiritual energy in Ukraine
Gallery
Legend
of New Life
We’ve curated a collection of photographs that capture the warm beauty and gentle charm of Ternoshora Lada
Read more
Goddess Lada
The most famous megalith of the sanctuary is a 10-meter-tall anthropomorphic figure, associated with the Great Primordial Mother – the goddess Lada. She is depicted with broad feminine hips, a pregnant belly, milk-filled breasts, her right hand resting between chest and womb, a straight back, and a head with four faces gazing toward the four cardinal directions. The head rests on three supporting legs, with the neck serving as a pedestal that transitions into a square-shaped neck ornament. Slightly leaning back, the woman gazes toward the east.
Researchers believe that the figure’s posture and the shape of her belly indicate that this was an ancient astronomical observatory. As noted by scholar Lyubomyr Derzhypilsky in his book, the apex of the triangular belly and the head are aligned with the point of sunrise at the equinox, while the angle between the left and right planes of the belly encompasses the sector where the sun rises throughout the year. Thus, Lada – pregnant with the sun – seems to embrace the space where the sun is born.
The Solar Disc
At the foot of the Ternoshora Sanctuary lies a massive stone circle, 8 meters in diameter, made of two parts and shaped by human hands into a perfect ring – the symbol of the sun god. Upon closer inspection, the chips and grooves on its surface reveal the face of a lion: narrowed eyes, a broad nose, and even a discernible mane. In many cultures, the lion represents the supreme celestial body. This lion gazes southward, squinting as the bright sun shines into its eyes throughout the year – even in winter.
Above the solar disc is a small cave, symbolizing the feminine womb, and above that stands a stone figure of a pregnant woman. She looks toward the horizon where, each year in late December, the sun pauses. Her hand rests in the familiar gesture of expectant mothers – on her belly, just below the chest.
This story carved in stone tells the legend of how, each year, when the first stars of the constellation of Perun (Sagittarius) appear, the goddess Lada gives birth to the new Sun – Bozhych-Kolyada, the Sun of the Winter Solstice. Thus, Day (BiloBog) triumphs over Night (ChornoBog). From this point, the Sun begins its journey toward summer.
The Passage and the Chthonic Serpent
A narrow passage (about 50 cm wide) between two rocks is also part of the legend. At the exit of this rocky crevice lurks a serpent – a two-meter stone shaped like the head of a dragon-serpent, with an open mouth and a clearly defined left eye. Above this otherworldly creature looms a massive rock, scorched by fire.
According to researcher Professor Mykola Vasylovych Kugutyak, this passage is a vital element of the mythological system of the Ternoshorа Sanctuary. It is yet another legend carved in stone, telling how each day the god of the sky – the Sun – descends into the underworld, battles the serpent, and triumphs.
There is a belief that women enter the passage from the northern side, while men enter from the opposite direction. Here, in the shelter of ancient rocks, one can make a wish or create a personal ritual – for in such charged places, our thoughts and desires acquire extraordinary power. In mythology, passages symbolize transition: from the ordinary to the sacred, beyond the bounds of time and space – a gateway to change and profound transformation.
Blog
We’re collecting articles from sanctuary researchers to help you explore the history and deeper meanings of this sacred place
Mini-Documentary on Lada
We created this video to give you an up-close and detailed view of the Ternoshorа Sanctuary
Our Partners
Hotel for relaxation and unity with nature "Zatyshok ZHYVA"
Environmental NGO
Visitor Reviews
of the Ternoshorа Sanctuary