It's a super beautiful religious wood carving art museum by the sea!
The Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya, although a modern construction, shares some similarities with the White Temple in Chiang Mai. It is not founded on religion per se, but rather resembles a breathtaking Buddhist wood carving art museum. This all-wood structure temple was started in 1981, built entirely from teak and rosewood, and assembled solely through the use of traditional joinery like tenons and mortises.
Although the Sanctuary of Truth has been under construction for over 40 years, it still remains unfinished according to the original design. Visitors will pass by workshops on their way and can see craftsmen meticulously carving the wood. Moreover, the pure wooden structure is inevitably vulnerable to natural damage, especially being located by the sea, so it is always undergoing continuous improvement and repair.
🛕 Photo tips
The Sanctuary of Truth indeed attracts many visitors, especially when one tour group follows another. However, it's still easy to take photos without people if you avoid a few popular check-in spots that everyone loves.
Various window sides, shooting from inside out, the staircase on the right side, and the indoor corridors are spots where you should wait for a decrease in the crowd.
In my opinion, a more photogenic spot is to use the 'convex' architectural structure of the Sanctuary of Truth. Take photos from the window corner to the other side of the window - trust me, there will be no one there.
The platform outside the main entrance is the only place where you can take high-angle shots of the Sanctuary of Truth and the sea, but unfortunately, the front high area is currently enclosed for renovation.
🛕 Tour tips
Respect local beliefs, and don't dress too revealingly. There are large cloths for rent at the entrance, just wrap one around yourself.
Buy tickets in advance for 90 RMB/person on a domestic app, or 500 Thai Baht (about 100 RMB/person) on-site. When purchasing a ticket, you will receive a wristband and a ticket. Once the wristband is torn off when leaving, you cannot re-enter.
There are free Chinese explanations available every day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, which are great to catch if you can. Chinese brochures can be found at the ticket office and inside the Sanctuary of Truth.
Inside the Sanctuary of Truth, there are also paid activities such as elephant riding (not recommended), boating, and massages.
There's a small drink shop and an outdoor seating area near the entrance where you can get various fruit smoothies that taste great, though they are a bit more expensive than those at the night market.
Various wood carvings hidden among the trees can also be found along the exit path.
The Sanctuary of Truth is located on the north side of Pattaya, slightly off the beaten path. Songthaews do go there, but they stop on the main road, requiring a walk down a narrow dirt path.
🛕 The Sanctuary of Truth
Address: 206/2 Moo 5, Pattaya-Naklua Road, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150
Opening Hours: 8:00-16:00
Guided tours are available in multiple languages, making it easy to delve into the sanctuary's intricate carvings and the philosophy it represents. The site beautifully conveys the idea that we enter and leave this world with empty hands, highlighting the impermanence of material possessions
An impressive structure and guided through it. On completion of the tour you can span as long as you like to take photos and enjoy the place.There are a few refreshment areas both at the top and bottom of the sanctuary.
Sanctuary of Truth - A Marvel of Wooden Craftsmanship and Cultural HeritageI recently had the pleasure of visiting the Sanctuary of Truth, an extraordinary construction that left me in awe. This stunning structure is made entirely of wood, with not a single nail used in its creation—a testament to the incredible craftsmanship involved.
it costs 500 baht to enter, I paid with credit card and they add a small fee of 5% which is ok. when you arrive there they will instruct you to follow a tourist guide during the visit in the temple which is very nice, they have English, mandarin, Thai and Russian guides. they will explain the whole history of the temple which is amazing and unique. Incredible places to take photos and enjoy.
I had some free time in this morning, and visited “The Sanctuary of Truth”(真理寺), the place that JG came to take photos when 2009.In a hurry but finally found out three places which appeared in the photo book 😆, right now is doing some repair projects, so can’t close to someplace very near.
I was fortunate to have been to Thailand's Temple of Truth and embarked on an unforgettable journey. When I stepped into the Temple of Truth park, the first thing I saw was the magnificent and unique architectural outline. The temple is built on the beach by the sea, and the wooden structure exudes a simple and solemn atmosphere under the sun. Every pillar, every corner, every carving is extremely delicate, as if telling the story of the years and the craftsmen's skill. On the way to the Temple of Truth, there is an observation deck that overlooks the temple from a distance. The temple is 100 meters high and covers an area of 2115 square meters, and its scale is amazing. Walk down the stairs of the forest trail, you can see the rich amusement projects in the scenic area, such as riding elephants, feeding horses, feeding lambs, riding carriages, taking boats, etc., but these projects need to be charged separately. Entering the temple of truth, it seems to enter a sacred temple belonging to Buddhist art. The wood carving art here is a must, and the images of immortals appear vividly in front of you. Thailand's exquisite wood carving craftsmanship is here to show. The temple is dedicated to Sheriko, and you can often see Thai monks haunting here, adding a bit of solemn and mysterious atmosphere.
A tour guide took us to introduce us in recorded Chinese. When we went in, we saw many local carpenters carving things. There was also a cute little orange cat on the wooden chair next to it. Then you can see the Temple of Truth. There is a lazy sea next to the temple. It is very beautiful to take pictures together in the sun. The temple is very large, the top is very high, and the densely carved characters are all carved. There are also several Chinese characters and allusions. It feels very magnificent and shocking.
Very spectacular, worthy of being called the world's largest wooden castle, not to go to the front, it is really hard to believe that a pure wooden building can be repaired so tall, let alone the ubiquitous carving pattern, it is worth seeing