Situated on the East coast of the Gulf of Thailand, Pattaya city is about 100 kilometres from Bangkok.
Amongst the different places that have to be seen, The Sanctuary of Truth is the most majestic structure that Pattaya has to offer. Created entirely from intricately carved teak wood, the awe-inspiring 105 meter-tall hall is a one-of-a-kind structure. Neither a temple nor a palace, despite looking like a hybrid of both, it was commissioned by a local business tycoon to act as a place of appreciation for philosophy, art, culture and faith, without being tied to a single religion.
Situated on Na Klua Road, North Pattaya, The Sanctuary of Truth covers an area of more than 3,200 sq. meters. Its name in Thai is Prasat Satchatham, with “prasat” meaning “castle” and “satchatham” meaning “philosophy”.
The Sanctuary of Truth was constructed according to ancient Thai ingenuity to withstand wind and sunshine on the seashore. Made entirely of wood (without any metal nails) and commanding a celestial view of the ocean, it is best described as a visionary environment consisting of the following parts - art installation, religious shrine and cultural monument. Its four wings are each dedicated to a religious iconography: Thai, Khmer, Chinese and Indian. Through elaborate carvings and sculptures, it pays tribute to the seven creators man cannot exist without: Heaven, Earth, Father, Mother, Moon, Sun and Stars.
Covering an impressive area of two rai, every part of the attraction is embellished with magnificent wood carvings. Even the bolts that hold the wall, roof, floors and sculptures are made of wood. Although construction started in 1981, the building has not been completed yet; it is constantly being added to, developed and repaired (against salt air deterioration) and is set for completion in 2025. For this reason, visitors need to wear the safety helmet provided when touring the facility with an assigned guide.
The Sanctuary of Truth is located in the Naklua area of Pattaya, close by Centara. It is open daily from 8am to 5pm, entrance fee is THB 500. To get there, motorcycle taxis can be hired from Pattaya for THB 50 to 70.
The Sanctuary of Truth
206/2 Moo5, Soi Naklua 12. Pattaya-Naklua Road. Pattaya
Tel. 081-350 8708
www.sanctuaryoftruthmuseum.com
