Dress code rules for ancient temple ruins and culture photography
I am visiting Polonnaruwa tomorrow What are the cultural rules for photographing ancient ruins and statues so I do not offend anyone
3 Answers from travellers
The most important cultural rule in Sri Lanka is that you must NEVER take a photo posing with your back turned to a Buddha statue, even if it is a ruin. This is considered deeply disrespectful. You must stand sideways or face the statue. Also, remove your hat and shoes when standing on the sandy compounds, and turn off your camera flash to protect ancient pigments.
Do not climb onto the ruined brick walls to get a better angle either. That is highly illegal.
The guards are super strict. I saw someone forced to delete selfies because their back was to the statue at Gal Vihara.
Fair TukTuk Prices
Help travelers avoid overcharging!
Be the first to report a priceYou must be logged in to post an answer.
Log In to Answer