Sanctuary of Truth, Wooden temple museum by the sea in Pattaya, Thailand.
The Sanctuary of Truth is a wooden temple by the sea in Pattaya that combines Buddhist and Hindu elements across four wings. Each wing represents different aspects of existence and spirituality through elaborate carvings and architectural details.
Construction of this monumental wooden structure began in 1981 under Thai businessman Lek Viriyaphan's direction. The project was created to preserve and pass on traditional craftsmanship methods and ancient building techniques.
The structure displays thousands of wooden carvings depicting gods and spiritual concepts from Buddhist, Hindu, Chinese, Khmer, and Indian traditions. Walking through its spaces lets you see how these different belief systems found expression in the same work.
Visitors can explore the site during daylight hours on most days and should wear comfortable shoes since there are many stairs and different levels. Guided tours are worth taking to better understand the stories and symbols behind the carvings.
The entire structure uses traditional wooden joints instead of metal nails, making it the largest building of its kind built using ancient techniques. This construction method requires great skill and preserves the heritage of craftsmanship that might otherwise be forgotten.
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