Thailand forum

I wear capris all the time, never a problem.

At the Grand Palace you will have the touts telling you that your shoes and stuff are not Ok and want to take you someplace to buy something proper. Right inside is a place where they will give you whatever you need.

There's always someone trying to run a scam. If they ain't cheatin', they ain't tryin'

It can depend on whether you or girl or guy maybe?

When visiting a mosque in Putrajaya, my capris were longer than the capri's that my male friend was wearing. I had to wear a pink 'bunny suit' over the top of my clothing (even though my shoulders were covered) to enter the temple whereas he didn't. At least there was no one there trying to sell me something to wear - the mosque provided the pink gowns.

Obviously I've been out of the scene for awhile because I've never heard of Capris.Can someone enlighten me?

as #9 said, it depends on the temple. & whether you enter the temple buildings (esp consecrated areas) or need to talk to a monk.

in Thailand, some temples have 'Royal status' (further subdivided into Special Class, Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3) - these tend to be the major ones in Bangkok & province capitals, & the ones that many tourists visit (e.g. Temple of the Emerald Buddha within the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Suthat & the Marble Temple in Bangkok, & Wat Phra Singh in Chiangmai). dress code is stricter in these temples, & enforced for the 'highest class' ones. strictest dress code is for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha - the only one that has 'Special Class' status (& palaces incl Vimanmek Mansion): http://www.palaces.thai.net/day/new/gp/helpful_gp.htm

& then you have the smaller temples all across the country, both in towns & the countryside. they are public areas/community space, serving as carparks, space for kids to play in, festival grounds, etc. here, just need to keep knees & shoulders covered (midriff too - have seen tourists who think that 'knees & shoulders covered' means they can wear really short tops & low slung jeans, exposing their belly & butt crack), so capris are fine. locals do bare their shoulders - if they are old wizened grandmothers or women in full traditional dress for festivals/events.

there are also a relatively small number (~5%) of temples belonging to the Dhammayut order (some people refer to them loosely as the 'forest tradition') e.g. Wat Bowon in Bangkok (many are in Isaan) - dress code (& even behaviour code) in these temples tend to be stricter.

#13:
i've seen locals dressed like that on temple grounds too. but as you said earlier, they don't step inside the temple buildings like the ubosot.

#15:
footwear is removed only when entering temple buildings, entering the area immediately around the main chedi/stupa (this is only in some temples though), or presenting offerings to a monk. most temples that are tourist attractions will have 'no shoes' signs in English at the entrance of temple buildings, & in some cases racks for footwear too.

that link is specifically for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha inside the Grand Palace grounds, & other royal palaces, which have the strictest dress code & actively enforce it. with the exception of these places, i've been wearing flipflops to temples in Thailand for 25+ years

Most temples I've been to let me in wearing flip flops, shorts and a T-shirt.

The exception to this is Wat Phra Kaew. You will need to wear a shirt that at least covers your shoulders and long (ish) trousers. Flips flops appear to be a no-no and so shoes/trainers need to be worn.

When I went with someone wearing shorts, the staff directed him into a side office where he rented some trousers and then got back his deposit on the way out.

Thais, however, can walk in wearing whatever the hell they want to. And they do!