The Sanctuary of Truth is one of Thailand's most astonishing pieces of architecture, a soaring, entirely hand-built wooden hall rising more than one hundred metres above the shore at Rachvate Cape, just north of the centre. Begun in 1981 as the vision of Thai businessman Lek Viriyaphant, it is constructed almost wholly from teak and other hardwoods, joined with wooden pegs rather than nails, and every surface, inside and out, is covered in intricate hand carvings drawn from Hindu and Buddhist cosmology and Thai, Khmer, Chinese and Indian tradition. Because the exposed wood is constantly weathering by the sea, carvers work on it continuously, so it has remained a living, evolving construction site for decades, which is part of its fascination. Visitors are given hard hats and can watch the artisans at work. The seafront setting, with the towering spires against the sky, is genuinely memorable. It is a cultural and craftsmanship landmark rather than an active temple.
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