One of the biggest attractions in Thailand is it’s history, much of which revolves around the ancient royal family and Buddhist religion. In every city and even small village in Thailand you can find temples, some of which are incredibly opulent and simply fascinating to see. What’s even more fascinating about these ancient structures is that they are still very commonly used in this present day and age for their original religious worship practices.
Some temples in Thailand are more impressive than others, and thus attract more tourists. In major tourist areas, it may be less obvious what the appropriate behavior is because other ill-informed or unaware tourists will cloud your judgment.
When you visit a temple in Thailand, remember these tips:
Temple Etiquette in Thailand
Wear: Wear something that won’t offend any pious worshippers who may be near you. This means that your shoulders and knees should be covered with proper clothes. You can sometimes get away with wrapping scarf around you but this is not always acceptable, and you may in some instances be turned away from a temple because of your dress. Long skirts or trousers will be your best bet. For the top, bring along a jacket or just wear a t-shirt to begin with.
Don’t Wear: Don’t wear your shoes inside the temple! Shoes bring the filth from the outside world into this place of sanctuary, so take them off outside before you step foot in the temple. There are usually racks where you can leave them just outside of the main door.
Speak Quietly: Even better, don’t speak at all while you are within the temple. There may be others who are trying to reach a state of meditation and having chattering foreigners in their presence will not help them to reach enlightenment. Keep your voice down low when inside and be aware of how far your voice travels when you are outside of a temple with open doors.
Participate, Respectfully: It is alright to participate in the temple activities, but do not laugh or giggle during it if you are going to. Don’t pose for silly pictures if other people around are genuinely trying to worship. For example, one traditional thing that some temples have are 108 metal bowls along the interior edge of the temple. At one end, you can pick up a smaller bowl of coins that you can drop one in each bowl, to represent an offering to each of the 108 auspicious characters of Buddha. If you choose to do this; move slowly, be quiet, be respectful and everyone nearby you will treat you with respect as well.
Respect the Monks: Never disrupt a monk who is worshipping, and at no time should you ever point at a monk with your feet or your hands. If one enters the room and you are sitting, stand up to show respect. If you are female and hand something to the monk, you must not touch him but rather put the gift on his robe while he sits.
