Sanctuary of Truth - Pattaya    Share

It is amazing . The beautiful ornate wood house. Some people say it is temple but Guide told that it is not temple , it's a place that shows morality and depicts story of how right moral help to get happiness. How family is important and how our good deeds helps us to grow and be happy. The building construction started at year 1981, presently few parts are still under construction and it might take another 50 yrs to complete. The ticket cost is 500 baht per person . You can also see their dance shows at particular time . they don't allow short dresses please follow their dress code .

Amazing carved wood structure 20 stories tall. Construction began in 1980s and continues until present. Very interesting to watch carving and construction work as well as the beautiful interior and exterior of building. Unfortunately they offer elephant rides and the elephants are kept chained to ground when they are not working. Very sad. I bought the ATV package for 800 baht (included 500 baht admission) and it was very fun, albeit short and kinda scetchy vehicles. That also came with a free 30 min for massage which we were unable to use because of time constraints. Overall highly recommend this place besides the animal treatment issues.

The place is really special. It's interesting, charming, full of story and magnificent, I must say. The place is still building and might take few more years to finish. But some of the area are ready for tourists to enjoy the view and environment. Tour guides are nice, can speak English fluently, don't worry that you won't be able to understand a bit of it. Ticket: 500 THB Open: Unknown - 6 P.M.

First of all, photos do not properly convey the scale of the Sanctuary. In that regard, and where the details are etched most carefully, the temple is quite impressive. The tour guide was quite adamant, on behalf of the owner, not to mistake the structure for a temple. However, while it may not be intended to represent any specific religion, its design and ethos are intrinsically such. Visitors aren't forced to stay with their guide either, and in fact, after being led around the main areas, are encouraged to wander, taking as many photos as they please. Going at ones own pace may be preferable to anyone well-versed on spiritual philosophy, as the guided tour was somewhat shallow and rote. Most disappointing, for me, was the extent to which the Sanctuary is under construction and renovation. What is meant to be entirely wooden architecture remains, in part, surrounded by steel scaffolding. Many internal sections are unfinished as well, and the constant use of power tools ruins the "peaceful" vibe.

Simply put, Sanctuary of Truth may be the most bonkers amount of carved wood you'll ever see in one place. I could say "incredible" given the very artistic nature of the sculptures from at least four faith traditions, but see for yourself if "bonkers" isn't a contender for just how mind-bogglingly much sculpture there is here. Inside and outside, the roof, the ceiling, the walls, the stairs. Is it tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? The entire place is a living work, as the sea air, sun, and living creatures require continual ongoing renovations. There were sculptors and carpenters on site working even as we toured! Tours roll out every half hour, and about every three hours there is a Thai traditional dancing show included in your ticket. On top of the Sanctuary itself, there are some side attractions such as a mini zoo, horse carriage rides, some elephants and goats. For under $1 (20 baht) you can buy the kids (or yourself) a handful of grass and other things the animals like to eat to give them a treat. There are several cafe and smoothie stands placed around the grounds for some refreshment. Living in the UAE helped me notice they have a Muslim prayer room and specific halal menu items. There is a fair amount of walking and stairs for people on foot, although there is an elevator (decorated in wood, naturally) and several other ramps placed around to help with accessibility. Finally, they have their own taxi queue, making it very easy to taxi in and then taxi out again conveniently when you're ready to head home. I recommend almost anyone see this at least once. I've never seen anything quite like it, and it's impressive and even a bit inspiring just how much wood sculpture people can make working together.