Pattaya: Why a Temple Started in 1981 Still Isn't Finished

By Travelog Editorial Team · Updated August 10, 2026

The Sanctuary of Truth, construction of which began in 1981 under Lek Viriyaphan, is a 105-meter-tall all-wood temple built using traditional Thai joinery without nails, screws, or concrete, hand-carved with tens of thousands of Hindu and Buddhist figures. It remains genuinely unfinished, with artisans still carving and restoring sections today and a projected completion date of 2050. Unlike most anchors in this region, it is a private project, not a government or UNESCO-recognized site, disclosed honestly here.

The still-ongoing construction behind the Sanctuary of Truth, and a nearby Buddha image carved by laser in a matter of nights, are worth understanding before visiting, both covered in full below.