Sanctuary of Truth – Pattaya, Thailand
What is It - Thailand is widely known throughout the world for its beautiful beaches and gilded temples. People from Asia and Australia flock to places like Phuket, Koh Samet and Hua Hin to relax on the beach with family and friends or visit exotic temples in Bangkok and Chang Mai. Budget travelers and those seeking fun in the sun or an earthlier experience often choose to visit Pattaya instead. A large city of more than 300,000 people located two hours south of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand, Pattaya became popular during the Vietnam War as a rest stop for American soldiers. Despite the construction of modern hotels and addition of some family activities, the area is often judged on its past reputation as a party town with a pollution problem.
I was somewhat skeptical therefore when the excursion desk on our cruise ship recommended visiting the Sanctuary of Truth shrine in North Pattaya. It was worth the trip. The Sanctuary is a massive castle-like structure located on a waterfront peninsula near Wongamat Beach. The open-air corridors and interior chambers cover an area as wide as a football field and the castle-like building rises more than 300 feet into the air.
The Sanctuary is being built using traditional tongue and groove construction methods. It is hand carved entirely out of several different hardwoods including teak and mahogany which give various parts of the structure different colors and textures. The building also reflects the southeast Asian architecture and carvings visible at Ayutthaya in Thailand, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and Bagan in Myanmar. The Sanctuary has some sculptures which reflect Hindu elements such as a four faced Brahma on its roof and depictions of Vishnu and Shiva, but other sculptures and carvings reflect Buddhist, Chinese, Thai, Indian and Khmer themes or mythological figures.
Shrine Scheduled for Completion in 2050
The Sanctuary has been under construction since 1981 and is scheduled for completion around 2050. Dozens of artisans and contractors work busily creating additional carvings and repairing sections of the wood which become damaged from the salt air. A visit to the Sanctuary takes about two hours including a guided tour of the building with a hardhat on, and a show featuring traditional Thai dance and sword fighting. Other activities available there include a buffet meal, elephant riding and a small zoo.
Interesting Facts - The Sanctuary was the idea of a wealthy Thai businessman, Lek Viriyaphand, who wanted to encourage ethics and morality to Thais and tourists as well as promote “peace and tolerance” without being tied to a single religion. To further that goal, he intentionally incorporated symbols that reflect the diverse lifestyle and beliefs of the Thai people. His vision continues to be implemented today through financial contributions and revenue from visitors.
How to Get Here - If you are staying at a beach resort anywhere on the coast south of Bangkok, then taking a taxi, a tour group, or an island ferry to the Sanctuary in Pattaya is a good idea. A day trip to the Sanctuary and the other less spiritual sites of Pattaya from downtown Bangkok is also common but it generally requires a 2-hour drive on Route M8 to get there. Pattaya is only 30 minutes from the large port used by cruise ships visiting Bangkok known as Laem Chabang so the Sanctuary can be reached easily from there by taxi or on a tour.
When to Go-Pattaya is in the tropics so there is warm weather year round with high humidity and temperature generally from 85 to 90 degrees. Since the Sanctuary and dozens of hotels line the shore of Pattaya, you are never far from cooling waters and air conditioning.
The rainy season is usually from June to October with the possibility of torrential rain and inland flooding periodically.
Cost- Admission to the Sanctuary is roughly $20 per person for adults and $8 for children. Full day excursions to Pattaya including the Sanctuary and other places from Bangkok are available for $35 to $100 per person.