The Sanctuary of Truth (Unfinished Museum), Pattaya, Thailand

The Sanctuary of Truth is an unfinished 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.

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. Inspired by the temples in Ayutthaya,the hand-carved wood structure features Thai architecture. The museum 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 (earth, wind, water, and fire). 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.

The sanctuary is perhaps best described as a monument to Thai craftsmanship, with its stunningly detailed carvings of elephants, people and scenes, creatures and deities from mythology. They pay homage to and are a reflection of the Ancient Vision of Earth, Ancient Knowledge and Eastern Philosophy and they adorn every single surface – both inside and out – of the building. They are also a reflection of the fleeting nature and ceaseless toil of human existence because none of the wood is treated or protected from the elements, meaning that older parts gradually succumb to the rigours of the weather and climate and need to be replaced. The construction of the sanctuary, which began in 1981, is an on-going, never-ending task.