Sanctuary of Truth


The Sanctuary of Truth is an unfinished Hindu-Buddhist temple and museum in Pattaya, Thailand. It was designed by the Thai businessman Lek Viriyaphan in the Ayutthaya style. The building is notably constructed entirely out of wood, specifically Mai Deang, Mai Takien, Mai Panchaat, and Teak, and it contains only wood-carved idols and sculptures. Construction first began on the Sanctuary of Truth in 1981 and continues as of 2020, though visitors are permitted inside with hard hats. Located on 13 hectares of land, the temple houses an internal space of 2,115 m2, with the tallest spire reaching to 105 m.

History

The building has been under construction since 1981, and may not be finally completed until 2025 at the earliest. Though under construction, tourists are able to visit the Sanctuary.

Physical description

Inspired by the temples in Ayutthaya, the hand-carved wood temple features Thai architecture. The temple was built by Lek Viriyaphan. Every surface of the structure is decorated with ornamentation from the Thai, Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese, and Khmer traditions..
The Sanctuary is made of several different types of wood, giving different parts of the Sanctuary different textures. The oldest wood that has been used is takien wood, used to build the main post and expected to last for 600 years. The structure is composed of wood such as Xylia xylocarpa , Mai-Takien, Mai-Panchart, and teakwood.
The Sanctuary features a four-faced Brahma statue on its rooftop. The Northern hall features Guanyin and other sculptures. The Southern hall features astronomical themes, namely the sun, moon, and planets, in addition to sculptures of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The Western hall features representations of the Classical element. The Eastern hall features familial representations. The wooden Sanctuary is over 100 meters tall and makes for an impressive sight against the backdrop of the Gulf of Thailand. The indoor space is 2,115 square meters.