In the coastal area of Pattaya, there is a building where almost the entire structure is made of wood. The place is officially known as the Sanctuary of Truth or Prasat Satchatham.
The building consists of multi-tiered wooden structures, with every wall and pillar covered in relief carvings. The carvings display various figures from Hindu and Buddhist cosmological traditions. The place functions as a wooden architecture art gallery as well as a cultural reflection space displaying various cultural philosophies of Asian societies.
Nailless Wooden Architecture
The Sanctuary of Truth building is located in the coastal area of Naklua, specifically on Soi Naklua 12, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi. The entire area of the building spans around 13 hectares. The interior space of the building is designed with an area of 2,115 square meters, while its highest tower reaches up to 105 meters.
The main uniqueness of the building lies in its structure, which uses wood as the base material with manual workmanship using hand-carving techniques. Its construction applies traditional Thai joint techniques without using iron nails, while all of its walls and pillars are filled with relief carvings depicting traditions influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism.
Furthermore, the Sanctuary of Truth achieved a record as the world's largest wooden castle from World Book Records London on May 12, 2025. The building was recognized for its massive size and traditional construction techniques using wooden materials.
The selection of construction materials utilizes tropical hardwood. The main pillars use takien wood, which is the oldest and is projected to last for about 600 years. In addition, there is also Mai Daeng or red wood, as well as teak wood.
In terms of design, the shape of the building combines temple and castle models. The architectural style adopted refers to the traditions of the Ayutthaya Kingdom era, decorated with relief figures from Hindu and Buddhist cosmological traditions on its walls and pillars.
Carved Harmony of Ancient Faiths
The Sanctuary of Truth also features a lion base structure and a four-tiered roof structure. Moreover, the building’s interior is divided into four main halls positioned according to the cardinal directions. Each hall has varied themes.
In the north hall, there is a statue of Guanyin Buddha along with various carvings depicting the theme of liberation, while the south hall presents astronomical themes covering the sun, moon, and planets that influence human life.
The west hall displays representations of natural elements consisting of earth, water, wind, and fire, alongside a Hindu Trimurti statue, whereas the east hall contains a representation of family life focusing on Eastern religious concepts and the life cycle.
Outside of the hall layouts, the roof section of the building features a four-faced Hindu creator deity statue, Brahma, which symbolizes respect for father, mother, teacher, and king. Additionally, there is an elephant-headed deity statue of Ganesha in the roof area.
The Endless Work of a Living Art
The Sanctuary of Truth construction was started in 1981 initiated by a Thai businessman named Lek Viriyaphon, and the building process has never truly stopped since then.
The building construction continues to this day. The ongoing work happens because the building is treated as a living art form rooted in Buddhist philosophy, which views existence as impermanent.
Additionally, because the structure is made entirely of wood, ongoing maintenance and restoration are continuously required to preserve it.
While the continuous construction and preservation work takes place, the main areas of the building remain open to the public. But, entering the construction area is required to wear a safety helmet.
