Bangkok to Chon Buri’s Buddhist landmarks: Private day trip

Buddha Mountain was created in 1996 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s accession to the throne. The patriarch himself selected the location - a mountain of marble that had been mined during the Vietnam War that he didn’t want to go to waste. The 130-meter tall Buddha was laser etched into the cliff face and then inlaid with gold leaf in a process that took months. Sprawled out in front of the cliff face are beautifully landscaped gardens, complete with pavilions and lotus-flower-filled pools. As you make your way through the gardens, a number of signs (in English!) share the site’s history.

The Sanctuary of Truth is a unique project founded by Thai businessman Lek Viriyaphant in 1981 as a symbol of harmony and means of preserving traditional construction techniques. The entire temple is built out of wood (there aren’t even metal nails), every inch of the 105 meter tall building is covered with hand-carved depictions of Hindu and Buddhist deities. The mythologies of Cambodia, China, India and Thailand are represented in each of the Sanctuary’s four wings, unifying the ideologies of Southeast Asia. The interior is only accessible on a guided tour, which runs every 30 minutes. For more information, please visit sanctuaryoftruth.com