Thailand Guide
The east coast
Sanctuary of Truth (Wang Boran)
Opening time: Daily 8am–5pm; daily dolphin shows at 11.30am and 3pm
Price: B500, kids B250
Address: Off the west end of Naklua Soi 12, close to the Garden Sea View hotel; from Central Pattaya, take a Naklua-bound pick-up as far as Soi 12, then a motorbike taxi
Telephone: 038 225407
Website: www.sanctuaryoftruth.com
The hugely ambitious Sanctuary of Truth, also known as Wang Boran and Prasat Mai is a huge temple-palace designed to evoke the great ancient Khmer sanctuaries of Angkor and built entirely of wood. Conceived by the man behind the Muang Boran Ancient City complex near Bangkok, it was begun in 1981 but is still a work-in-progress. Built in a fabulously dramatic spot beside the sea, the temple rises to 105m at its highest point and fans out into four entrance pavilions, each covered in a growing gallery of beautiful, symbolic woodcarvings inspired by Cambodian, Chinese, Thai and Indian mythologies.