Sanctuary of Truth Pattaya (video)
On the coast - a stone's throw from Pattaya - a temple has been built entirely of wood. The imposing structure is one hundred meters high and one hundred meters long. Construction was started in the early XNUMXs at the behest of a wealthy businessman.
The businessman had earned a lot of money with a hotel chain along the Thai coast. In 1981 he hired a few hundred woodcarvers to build a temple to his design. For more than thirty years these woodcarvers have been busy giving shape to an immense monument, a temple with four entrances. The 'Shrine of Truth', also called the Wang Boran or Prasat Mai, is not just any temple. This immense structure is made entirely of wood and is richly decorated with Buddhist and Hindu motifs. The temple, which also looks a bit like a castle or a palace, must be completed by 2025.
The temple is located right on the sea and immediately at first sight it looks impressive. A small part of the The Sanctuary of Truth is in scaffolding. Woodcarvers are busy. When you get closer to the temple, you see how incredibly much work has gone into this building. I personally think that this building is unique in the world. Every inch of this fairytale temple is made by hand. And every day dozens of wood carvers, including a striking number of women, are still working on huge blocks of wood into beautiful statues, decorations or parts for the construction. You really look your eyes out!
The temple also carries a message. The different art forms and styles express the inseparable connection between man and the world. In this case, the Indian, Cambodian, Chinese and Thai cultures are portrayed as a unity of Eastern thought. The universal wealth of morality and spirituality of the East - regardless of nationality or religion - versus the harsh materialism and glorification of advanced technology by the West.
If you are staying in Pattaya, be sure to take a look, because you will probably not be able to see such a special structure anywhere else in the world.
- Address: 206/2 Moo 5, Soi Naklua 12 , Naklua, Banglamung, Chonburi
- Website: www.sanctuaryoftruth.com
Video: Sanctuary of Truth Pattaya
Watch the video here:
This Temple is indeed really worth a visit.
Visited last year in November, It really is a work of art of wood carving.
they have been working on it for at least 20 years and if you ask when it could be finished ??
No one can answer it.
Definitely go check it out.
Walter
Been here 2 years ago and was impressed by this amazingly beautiful and labour-intensive project.
The wood is processed down to the smallest details.
This is definitely a must if you are near Pattaya.
Cor Verkerk
Schittrend building; nothing but praise! But still a minor correction from an architectural point of view. The heavy, structural parts of the temple (pillars and such) are indeed made of concrete. However, these are completely "covered" with wood (carving). That does not make the whole less beautiful, but it does make it a lot more solid. The term “built entirely of wood” has therefore not entirely caught on. Sorry, not meant negatively, just a constructive (literally and figuratively) addition. Still very much worth it! Ad Koens.
Been there this year with my son, girlfriend and kids .... I looked in amazement at all those beautiful wood carvings. Well worth a look if you're in the area, brilliant, and hats off to the staff, what a job!!! Impressive……..
We went there in December.
Great and impressive, really take the time because you really have to look and look.
Seeing people working on it is also fantastic, with heart and soul, passionate.
There are not only years of work but also years of schooling for young people, they learn multiple trades, not just carpentry.
Not just a beautiful temple but definitely a fantastic learning project that is partly financed by the entrance fees.
Isn't that fantastic in a country with so many poor and unemployed people?
Yes, and those trees…they are beautifully crafted
.
The purpose of this whole is to provide unemployed and unskilled youth with training in various professions. Underprivileged youngsters, so to speak. The benefactor let hundreds learn and work.
The cultural aspect is mainly that Eastern beliefs come together here and are forged into a spiritual whole.
If you are there and look closely you will experience that too, it's great, really great!!!
Have already visited the temple 3 times and still look at it with great admiration, both inside and outside how the wood is worked, real craftsmanship.
Sanctuary of Truth = Praa-saat-sa-tham (in Thay phonetic) = Palace of Truth.
we looked out over this temple from our apartment
i have been there many times until two years ago .
back then you could still swim with dolphins at the temple
you bought a bowl of fish and as soon as you were in the water the dolphins came to play with you for a fish
at one point I noticed that they could me because when I walked to the side she made noise and waves until I came with a bowl again
I don't know if it is still there, but it is recommended for children
Really very beautiful and impressive. I went there once about 10 years ago. But the entrance fee is way too high. So I'm never going there again. And no, I am not a Dutchman but a Belgian.
go see this impressive structure
really worth it
Seen it 3 times already, always a party
even my thai girlfriend likes it.
I went there in January 2018, after a tour to Cambodia. When I entered the room where the carvers do their work, I was offered to also do some carving with chisel with club, which I eagerly took advantage of. If I am in Pattya again I will definitely visit again to see the artists at work.
Sincerely, from Beverwijk
Been twice now, last year for the last time, and every time I continue to be amazed, also there, where people, and also many women, are busy with woodcarving, impressive! And definitely worth a look…..
Been 4 times already, but still impressive. This is a never ending project as it is affected by the salt air and termites. They now have slightly better protection, you can see this in the new pieces that have been placed. The old pieces turn green due to the use of a copper solution. Men do the coarse work and the women are specialized in the fine carving. I was then told that many people from Cambodia do this work. In principle, no nails are used, not even for the wooden roof tiles, which are attached with wooden plugs. Must be replaced every 6 years.
Very nice to see. Just like Lodewijk, I was there about 10 years ago. And like him, I thought it was way too expensive. I don't know Lodewijk, but I am also Belgian. Afterwards I brought visitors of mine there a few times, but never went to see it myself. Too expensive.
I've been there several times, fantastic in a word
Already visited several times. I always find it an impressive temple.
An impressive construction project. Beautiful to see and to spend half a day there. Been there many times. Alone or with family or friends. Even the disabled have been thought of. Then one can continue by car with one secial pass almost to the temple.
It was written here that access to this location is expensive. The cheapest ticket is 500thb. A very acceptable price in my eyes.
Beautiful temple. Seen a lot, but this one takes the cake in terms of wood construction. Friendly people who are busy with woodcarving. Taking a picture is no problem.
I have been there 2 years ago, I have never seen anything so beautiful .Beautiful…
Recently revisited it is an impressive work of art that will never be finished, due to the renovator of the update parts Already again. This is a building in the categories: Angkor Wat or Borobodur.
I have visited this temple several times, it is really beautiful. This also appears in the Netflix series La Casa De Papel.
My visit to the temple dates back to April 2023. I was told that not a single nail was used during its construction.
Is this correct ?
These are 100% wood-to-wood connections, not a single nail has been used.