Best Practices for Visiting Southeast Asia’s Iconic Temples

Home to thousands of temples, many of which are some of the most remarkable in the world, Southeast Asia is an exemplary travel destination for wanderers who can’t get enough of ancient architecture, colorful imagery and fascinating history. Still very much alive and thriving, while many of the region’s elaborate temples date to times of old, they continue to inspire and attract millions of modern travelers, seamlessly immersing visitors in local customs and traditions while remaining sites of great religious and cultural importance to locals.

Considering their significance, we’ve rounded up a few best practices for visiting one — or many — of Southeast Asia’s iconic temples. From what to wear and how to prepare to a few of the best places to see, you’ll find it all below.

Best Practices for Visiting Temples in Southeast Asia

What To Wear

Rules surrounding which attire is appropriate will vary from temple to temple. When selecting their outfit for a particular holy site, visitors are advised to do their research in advance and lean on the knowledge of a travel advisor, tour guide or temple employee to ensure their clothing is appropriate. It’s all about showing respect for local culture, and, when in doubt, visitors are encouraged to plan for the most conservative scenario, dress-wise.

“Dressing in layers is recommended,” said Cole Sjoholm, travel advisor and author of ‘Filling My Bucket: A Year of Solo Travel Across Seven Continents.’ Sjoholm went on to say that, while each temple is different, items like tank tops and short shorts can be nixed from the packing list. Instead, he recommends travelers opt for bottoms that fall below the knee, full coverage shirts and long skirts and dresses. Similarly, shoes and hats usually aren’t allowed inside temples — making flip flops a great footwear choice — and travelers will want to keep things easy and breezy with loose-fitting garments as tight and see-through clothing is off-limits.

How To Behave

While it goes without saying, temple grounds are not the place for roughhousing and rowdy behavior, and it’s recommended visitors keep their voices low and speak softly to maintain a peaceful environment. Inside, it’s not uncommon to encounter monks, and there are guidelines travelers should follow when interacting with them including: not touching monks, offering a small bow when passing older monks and always sitting a level lower than monks that might be sharing spaces. Similarly, eating, smoking and chewing gum is forbidden inside temples due to strict rules monks are instructed to follow.

Another important figure inside many Southeast Asian temples is Buddha — a character central to the Buddhist religion representing a person who has achieved ultimate enlightenment — and there are best practices visitors should adhere to when interacting with him, too. Two of the most common examples of this include not turning your back to Buddha imagery when taking photos and being mindful not to touch or point at Buddha statues with your fingers or feet.

According to Sjoholm, asking questions can go a long way for travel advisors working with clients who might be interested in visiting a temple. Again, respect is paramount, and while advisors may already have a few questions on deck they plan to ask prospective travelers, Sjoholm says he would ask this: 1) “Are you aware of and prepared to follow local customs for visiting temples in *insert location here*?”, and 2) “Do you need any assistance researching local customs prior to departing home?”

Popular Temples To Visit in Southeast Asia

Batu Caves, Malaysia

Recognizable with its 272 brightly painted stairs and larger-than-life golden statue of Lord Murugan — the Hindu god of war and wisdom — Batu Caves is a truly magnificent temple in Selangor, Malaysia jetsetters will want to add to their travel wish list. Visitors who have the stamina to conquer the climb will find those same colorful steps lead to a massive, 400-million-year-old limestone cavern decorated with pointy stalactites, mossy greenery and equally vibrant holy altars.

Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand

Also referred to as “The Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha,” Thailand’s Wat Phra Kaew is a sight to be seen with its soaring golden spires, 112 decorative Garudas, dramatic mother-of-pearl doors and moody interiors. Widely considered the country’s most sacred site, Wat Phra Kaew is not a monastery, but rather a complex of buildings, temples, statues and towers. The Emerald Buddha is the Grand Palace’s most prized belonging, and a recent season of HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’ depicted artwork inspired by the complex’s Ramakein murals during its intro credits. 

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

The world’s largest religious monument, Angkor Wat spans an impressive 401.8 acres, allowing plenty of space for its 1,000+ buildings, five central towers, large rectangular moat, three galleries and sizable collection of elaborate sculptures. Originally built as a royal city center more than 900 years ago, today Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that welcomes millions of visitors every year.

Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar

The most popular attraction in Myanmar’s capital city Yangon, the Shwedagon Pagoda ascends 324+ feet into the sky, its gold-plated dome a beacon of peace and light for all who visit. Adding to the pagoda’s already outwardly opulent appearance are 7,000 diamonds, rubies, topaz and sapphires surrounding an enormous emerald strategically placed to reflect the sun. Inside, Shwedagon is said to hold eight hairs of the Buddha in addition to various other holy relics.

Wat Rong Khun, Thailand

Thailand is home to many of the best temples in Southeast Asia, and Wat Rong Khun, aka the "White Temple,” is one of the most popular among visitors. Famous for its intriguing — albeit a little spooky — exterior, as the name implies, this unique structure touts an all-white facade adorned with plaster and glass. As for the “spooky” elements, Wat Rong Khun opened in 1997 and is considered something of a Buddhist art exhibit/religious site hybrid with its strange collection of plaster sculptures depicting scenes of human suffering including skulls, horns and a pit of human hands reaching for the heavens.