A jungle temple in Thailand hailed as a “hidden gem” has urged tourists to stop “inappropriate behaviour” after they were spotted doing gymnastics and wearing revealing clothing at the site.
The Wat Pha Lat temple, nestled on a mountain above Chiang Mai in the country’s north, is a popular tourist spot. It also serves as a peaceful place for monks to meditate.
On January 15, the temple published a post on its social media account, which has 11,000 followers, urging its visitors to stop disrespectful behaviour.
“Wat Pha Lat is a Buddhist temple and a sacred sanctuary, not a recreational park or a gym,” the post says.
The temple issued the bilingual notice written in Thai and English after spotting inappropriate behaviour by visitors, such as acro yoga, climbing on ancient structures and wearing revealing clothes.
It also posted a photograph showing a scantily clad white woman doing acro yoga, a partner-based physical practice which blends yoga and acrobatics, with a man.
The temple also announced that it strictly prohibits the wearing of swimwear and making loud noises that disturb the peace.
It warned that the temple’s administration will be forced to shut down the temple to all tourists permanently if the disrespectful behaviour continues.
The notice received support from local commenters.
“Only tourists would wear revealing clothes in temples. Locals would not do this,” one person said.
“People should dress and behave according to local rules when they travel,” said another.
“Why would anyone do yoga in a temple?” a third person said.
There are etiquette and dress codes when visiting temples in Thailand.
People should not wear clothes that reveal their shoulders or legs and in stricter cases not even tight outfits.
People are also advised to act modestly, speak softly and keep their phones on silent in a temple.
Also, visitors of a temple should be mindful of their body language, avoid pointing their feet at Buddha images or monks, which is considered disrespectful.
Offensive behaviour at sacred sites in Thailand is punishable by law.
In 2017, two tourists from the United States were detained when they were leaving Thailand after they shared photos of them baring their buttocks in front of a famous landmark at a Bangkok temple. They were fined US$150 each.
Earlier this month, a group of four white women also sparked controversy after photographs of them sunbathing in bikinis outside a Chiang Mai temple circulated online. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
