‘Not a gym’: Thai temple warns tourists not to do yoga, climb ancient rocks at place of worship

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.A couple, left of centre, perform acro-yoga at the ancient site in Chiang Mai. Photo: ThaigerThe 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.