Located adjacent to the sea in Naklua, north .
You may hear locals refer to the Sanctuary of Truth as ‘Wang Boran‘, ‘Prasat Mai‘ or ‘Prasat Sutjatham‘. Although this isn’t a traditional Thai temple, it is a religious building and does contain some Buddha images so visitors should dress respectfully and cover knees and shoulders. Work is still ongoing at the Sanctuary of Truth so there are areas where you will be requested to wear the hard hat they supply you with on entry. There are also some areas with scaffolding which are off-limits to the public.
There are guided tours every 30 minutes in English (other languages are available including Chinese and Russian). The guided tour is included in the cost of the ticket price, but on my visit I was advised you are not obliged to join a tour and can make your own way around the building if you wish to do so. But with so much to take in, a tour can be helpful to explain some of the meaning behind various design elements. There is no time limit to how long you spend at the Sanctuary of Truth so even if you do opt for a guided tour, you can still explore the site at your leisure afterwards. A display of traditional Thai dancing takes place daily at 11.30 and 15.30 on a covered stage in front of the main building.
In addition to the Sanctuary of Truth there are some other ‘attractions’. Sadly, this includes elephant rides and a pony and trap to ferry visitors around. There is also an area for ATV rides and a separate rifle shooting range. For an alternative view of the Sanctuary of Truth, visitors can book a speedboat trip at the ticket office for an additional 300 Baht per person. The trip lasts 25 minutes and takes you around the cape and surrounding area.
For food and refreshments, there is a Family Mart directly opposite the entrance to the building, but if you want dining or drinks with a view, Naklua Kitchen restaurant has an impressive location overlooking the Sanctuary of Truth and ocean beyond. The restaurant is located within the main grounds and is open daily 10.00-22.00. You don’t need to buy a ticket for the Sanctuary of Truth if you just want to eat or drink at Naklua Kitchen and simply enjoy the views which are said to be at their best at sunset.
The Sanctuary of Truth is located towards the end of Naklua Soi 12. Any tour office in Pattaya can arrange a visit with return transport, but the location is also quite easy to get to independently. From central Pattaya take a songthaew heading towards the Dolphin Roundabout (near the Dusit Thani Hotel) in north Pattaya. Most songthaews double back along Beach Road when they reach the Dolphin Roundabout, but occasionally some do go on to Naklua in which case you just ring the bell and get off at Naklua Soi 12. Chances are though, you will need to change songthaew at the Dolphin Roundabout and get on another songthaew heading north to Naklua. Get off at the entrance to Soi 12. Songhtaew prices on these routes are 10 Baht. From the start of Soi 12, you have the option of walking or taking a motorbike taxi to the Sanctuary of Truth. I opted to walk on my recent visit with my leisurely stroll taking 15 minutes. The current one-way price for a motorbike taxi is 20 Baht between the Sanctuary of Truth and the start of Soi 12.
entrance to Sanctuary of Truth on Naklua Soi 12
If you are in a group, you may find it more convenient to hire a songthaew for private hire to take you all the way to the Sanctuary of Truth. Expect to pay a minimum of 100 Baht (one way) for this from central Pattaya.
