One of the main components of Thailand's excursion program is visiting temples, of which there are a great many in the Land of Smiles. When going to a Buddhist shrine, there are a few basic rules of the local dress code to keep in mind.
How to dress properly for a temple visit?
There is a general rule for men and women regarding wardrobe when visiting Buddhist churches: in no case should you enter the temple with shoes - this is a serious insult to the church ministers. If a tourist is embarrassed by the cleanliness of the floor or other hygienic aspects, he may simply not enter the religious structure, thereby avoiding a conflict or simply an unpleasant situation.
The following rules, unfortunately, are especially relevant for tourists from Russia, who are often sure: if you come to rest in the country of beaches, then you can walk around the city, appear in public places and even visit temples in half-clothes. So, men often do not consider it necessary to wear a shirt or a T-shirt, and women gladly defile in pareos. If for appearing in ordinary shopping malls or restaurants such a "dress code" is simple - a manifestation of bad taste and disrespect for others, then visiting temples in this form is a serious insult to the Thai clergy.
Sometimes for the "unreasonable" tourists, the ministers of Buddhist temples make concessions - they let them into the churches even in an inappropriate manner. However, at the same time, the attitude towards such visitors develops correspondingly - tacitly condemning.
In no case should a woman enter a Buddhist temple with bare shoulders and arms, with a deep neckline, in short shorts or in a miniskirt. A man, on the other hand, has no right to enter the temple with a bare torso or with bare shoulders. That is, in a T-shirt or shirt - you can, in an alcoholic T-shirt - you can't. Also, a man cannot enter a Thai church wearing pants above the ankle.
Other tips for behavior in Buddhist temples
You cannot, while standing in front of the statue of Buddha, turn your back to it. If you need to leave the temple, you should step back three steps, and then turn towards the exit.
Near the largest temples in Bangkok, popular with tourists, pragmatic Thais offer long linen trousers and shirts that cover their shoulders "for rent" to ignorant tourists.
Women in Thailand are prohibited from touching monks, even their clothes. This rule applies not only to taekas, but also to visiting white tourists.
Any desecration of statues or images of Buddha is strictly prohibited. Thus, you cannot take pictures, climbing astride a statue, even if it is very old and in poor condition.
