Sanctuary of Truth (Prasat Sut Ja-Tum) Tours

Thailand’s answer to Barcelona’s La Sagrada Família cathedral, the Sanctuary of Truth (Prasat Sut Ja-Tum) was begun in 1981 and is scheduled for completion around 2050. The wooden structure is a whopping 345 feet tall (105 meters tall), hand-carved by artisans using traditional techniques, and full of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures.

The Basics
Travelers usually visit the Sanctuary of Truth from Pattaya itself, though some travel from farther-flung locales such as Bangkok, and the complex is a common stop on Pattaya tours. Many opt to visit on a cultural tour that includes attractions such as Pattaya Floating Market, Big Buddha Temple, and Buddha Mountain.

An entire tourist ecosystem has sprung up around the Sanctuary of Truth. In addition to watching twice-daily cultural performances, you can feed elephants, ride horses, take horse-and-carriage rides, enjoy an all-terrain-vehicle (ATV) trail, and eat at the on-site restaurant. It’s well worth joining one of the half-hourly Sanctuary of Truth tours to learn about the four different religious traditions reflected in the building.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The Sanctuary of Truth is a must for aficionados of religion, art, and architecture, as well as photographers.
• Wear the provided hard hats to protect against ongoing restoration and building work.
• This is a religious monument, so dress modestly, with arms and legs covered.
• An elevator provides wheelchair access to parts of the sanctuary.

How to Get There
The Sanctuary of Truth is located surprisingly close to downtown Pattaya, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of Walking Street. It’s off the main “baht bus” (covered-pickup-truck) routes, so many travelers opt to visit on an organized tour, perhaps one that takes in other nearby religious attractions.

When to Get There
The Sanctuary of Truth is open from morning until early evening seven days a week, but can get especially busy on weekends. It’s worth visiting for the cultural performances (usually Thai dance) in the late morning and midafternoon, though these also attract the big bus groups.

What Religion Is the Sanctuary of Truth?
The vision of maverick millionaire Lek Viriyaphant, the Sanctuary of Truth incorporates four separate religious traditions into its four wings: Indian, Chinese, Thai, and Khmer. Carvings tell stories from the Hindu and Buddhist lore of the different regions, demonstrating the close links between the two religions. Viriyaphant also created the Ancient City Museum near Bangkok.