Some rules of conduct for visiting Thai temples
Thailand's temples and other sacred places of worship are beautiful to visit, oases of peace and tranquility and rich in historical and religious significance. They are held in high esteem by the Thai people. Tourists are welcome, but they are expected to behave in accordance with a certain etiquette.
Observing the do's and don'ts of behavior will make the visit more pleasant and earn the appreciation and gratitude of the Thais. With the tips below in mind, the visitor to a Thai temple or other sacred place can have a great experience.
Appropriate clothing
Swimming trunks and tank tops may be the ideal choice for the beach, but such clothing should not be worn while visiting a temple. After all, these are places of religion and visitors should dress appropriately. For men, this means a shirt with sleeves and long pants or shorts that cover the knees. For women, this means a skirt that's longer than knee length and a top with sleeves, no spaghetti straps. For both men and women, shoes or sandals with a strap at the back are the norm.
Remove shoes
Anyone entering a temple is expected to do so barefoot. Shoe racks or designated areas to place shoes can be found outside all temples.
Jamb
Most temples have a raised threshold at the entrance. Do not step on that threshold, but over it.
Point your feet away
Sitting in front of a Buddha statue, the visitor points his feet away from the statue and never towards it, as this is a sign of disrespect. Likewise, pointing a finger in the Western manner is considered inappropriate in Thailand, so if you do want to point something, you should do so with the palm up and the four fingers pointing forward.
Physical contact with monks
Women are not allowed to touch a monk or his robes. In case a woman wants to give something to a monk, she can have a man do it or put the gift in cash or kind somewhere and allow the monk to pick it up.
Making pictures
Photos can be taken in most of the temples. But it's important to note that when taking a photo, it's rude to interfere in any way with anyone, especially those who are praying or making a donation.
Respect Buddha images
These are sacred objects and it goes without saying that they should always be treated with respect. The image or sacred object is not touched, nor is it pointed at. Walking around it should be done in a clockwise direction and it is not appropriate to walk or stand with your back to the statue. When leaving the frame, walk back a short distance before turning around.
Some more etiquette pointers
- Remove headgear and sunglasses
- Turn off cell phones or switch to silent mode
- Do not speak loudly or shout.
- Do not smoke
- Do not chew gum or snacks while walking around.
Source: Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) press release
The temples are always worth a visit, but I do not agree that it is always an oasis of calm and tranquility, often there is, apart from any other visitors, a lot of loud noise from praying monks or loud music.
Beautiful temples. And stick to the Thai rules. And we did. So shoes neatly removed and placed with all other shoes and slippers in front of the stairs to the entrance. When I returned my shoes were stolen. Yes, they were as good as new, so very attractive to take with you. It then took me almost an hour and a half, walking barefoot, to buy some slippers somewhere.
Now a piece of advice: When visiting a temple, wear older shoes or slippers. Or, as I do now, put my shoes in the backpack.
Unfortunately, the (expensive) sneakers from Nike and Adidas in particular are very popular. Oh well, happened, and hope the thief enjoys it for a long time. 😉
The fact that it apparently occurs more often is evident from the fact that measures are being taken.
Shoes can be placed in a cupboard and you will receive a receipt for this.
When handing in the voucher, someone gets their shoes back.
I always find it nice to experience how the Thais in the temples not only pray and meditate, but often also chat and laugh, in a subdued tone. Paintings of church interiors in Holland from the 17th to the 19th century also show that it is not only solemn and sacred there.
A nice anecdote is that when we visited the temple, we had taken off our shoes and when we left, monkeys took them with us. Even a bunch of bananas didn't help to get them back haha.
The Thais have a respectful yet relaxed approach to etiquette in temples. People certainly “live” in it. Talked, sat and enjoyed the coolness, celebrated, slept and sometimes even ate. Here and there even music, a radio, etc. As a non-Thai, you should always adhere to the most polite rules and you will be appreciated for your visit.
Bring socks if you don't like walking barefoot. And a bag for your shoes.