The Temple of Truth in Pattaya - tours, entertainment and recommendations

All the mystery and the centuries-old history of Eastern religion is embodied in the Temple of Truth, which stands on the seashore near Pattaya. It is impossible not to notice it when passing by.

The majestic building draws thousands of eyes to its high walls, roofs with graceful spires and a huge number of wooden figures depicting not only saints, but also animals and even mythological creatures.

What is the Temple of Truth

Majestic and exquisite, the temple fascinates tourists. It is built entirely of teak and ironwood and is considered one of the tallest wooden structures in the entire world. The height of the temple is 105 meters. It is noteworthy that during the construction workers did not use a single nail. Instead of them, the parts are connected by wooden fasteners.

Its construction began in 1981 and has not yet been completed. At the moment, although the main building has been completed, the interior and exterior of the temple is still being finished.

The approximate date of completion of all works is 2025.

In parallel with the construction, renovation work is also underway. Despite the fact that the temple began to be built only a few decades ago, some elements of the building have already been damaged due to the humid climate of Thailand, which destroys the wood. There is some symbolism in this process, because everything in this world is cyclical; everything is born, dies and is reborn, just like these fragile wooden figurines.

The goal for the eccentric Thai millionaire Lek Viriyapkhant organized the construction - preservation of monuments of Thai culture, architecture and religion. Not belonging to any one religion, the temple is designed to unite representatives of different faiths.

The wooden sculptures, which can be seen at every step here, depict representatives of the mythologies of Cambodia, Thailand, India and China, and various symbols of the Hindu and Buddhist religions. In addition, all the walls, arches, staircases and even doorways are also decorated with carved ornaments.

The decorations are based on the legend that our world was founded on seven foundations: earth, sun, sky, moon, stars, mother, father.

The spires of the temple are also topped with four symbolic figures. On the four edges are four figures of virgins. The first, holding a lotus, is a symbol of religion. The second, with the baby, symbolizes life itself. The maiden holding the book is the symbol of philosophy, and the maiden holding the dove is the symbol of peace. The central and highest spire is topped by the figure of a rider on a horse. This is Pra Sri Ariyamethai Pra, the last man to attain enlightenment.

The authors of this ambitious project, convinced that modern people are completely bogged down in everyday materialistic problems, decided with the help of Eastern art, religion and philosophy to remind everyone of what is really important. However, to understand the symbols, which can be found everywhere in the temple, is difficult because of their number. But everyone will find something that strikes a chord in their soul.

Location of the temple and costs to visit

The Temple of Truth in Pattaya is in NakluaThe northern part of the city. A huge wooden building is located on the peninsula, right next to the sea. It is one of the most famous landmarks of the city, so it is not difficult to find it. You can get to the temple on your own by rented vehicles, by cab or tuk-tuk, or by transfer.

The Temple of Truth on a map of Pattaya

In order to find the road yourself, you have to drive down the street Naklua straight to Soi Naklua 12. Then turn left and go straight ahead to the next fork, where you also have to turn left. After a few minutes you will see a temple on the horizon. This place can also be visited with a guide as part of a tour group. Tours around the temple are held every half hour from eight in the morning until five in the evening. The presence of Russian-speaking guides in the staff is a pleasant surprise.

Entertainment and sightseeing can be chosen at the entrance to the temple, which in addition to the walk through the territory itself may also include a boat ride, quad bikesThe most important thing is that you can get a boat ride or a foot massage, or a ride on a horse, or a kibitka, or even an elephant.

You can walk around the park that surrounds the building completely free of charge, but you won't see a hundredth of all the beauty inside the building. In addition, the money spent on the temple goes towards its construction, so you will be contributing to the construction of the world's greatest wooden building.

Tickets to the Temple of Truth