CHIANG MAI — 21 July 2026, Wat Sri Suphan, also known as the Silver Temple in Chiang Mai, has sparked widespread online debate after a foreign tourist shared a photo of a sign outside its Silver Ubosot stating that while both men and women are required to purchase entry tickets, only men are permitted to enter the Ubosot. Women, meanwhile, are restricted to walking around the exterior and viewing the interior through their mobile phones instead.
The post, shared on X, has received more than 4.5 million views, triggering criticism from internet users worldwide, with many questioning gender equalities and why women are charged the same entrance fee as men while being denied access to the same areas.
The English-language sign also drew heavy criticism for containing the phrase, “Think you for your donation and respectation,” instead of “Thank you for your donation,” with many users saying such errors should not appear at a tourist attraction that welcomes international visitors.
Many Thai social media users, however, stepped forward to explain that the restriction is not a teaching of Buddhism but stems from local beliefs dating back to the Lanna Kingdom, which predate the arrival of Buddhism in the region. The custom is rooted in animist beliefs and spirit worship.
According to the traditional belief, women—particularly those who are menstruating—were considered capable of rendering sacred spaces ritually impure. As a result, some temples in northern Thailand continue to restrict women’s access to certain sacred areas.
Many Thai users stressed that such restrictions are not practised across Buddhist temples throughout the country and apply only to some temples in northern Thailand that continue to observe these traditions.
At the same time, many Thais, particularly women, said the issue has been debated within Thai society for years, yet little has changed. Some suggested that if access restrictions remain, admission fees should be adjusted accordingly to reflect the different levels of access, or visitors should be clearly informed of the conditions before purchasing tickets.
Others also pointed out that if this is a specific temple custom, its historical background should be explained more comprehensively so that international visitors do not mistakenly assume it represents Buddhist doctrine as a whole. In reality, the vast majority of temples in Thailand do not enforce such restrictions.
The debate has highlighted the ongoing challenge of balancing respect for local beliefs and traditions with gender equality—an issue of growing global significance. Beyond the debate over gender, both Thais and foreigners have also questioned the fairness of charging equal admission fees while providing unequal access to visitors.
