10/18/23 Another must stop when in Kaua'i...Kadavul Hindu Temple. It gives me an overall sense of solace. A few years ago, I managed to attend a meditation session presided by the monastery's guru & abbot Satguru Bodhinata Veylanswami. It was a solemn ritual that was both spiritual & inspirational. He led the meditations in a rhythmic & transformative fashion. It was mesmerizing to feel & hear. The way the temple was architecturally designed, it reverberated & I felt it touch my soul to my very core. You have to experience it for yourself to understand what it is all about. The grounds are well maintained by the monks & people from the community (volunteers). It is a lush landscape in a prime property of Kaua'i. Through the years I have seen how the main temple has been constructed. As you enter, there is a gazebo at the entrance where sarongs are provided for visitors. These are provided to have guests dress appropriately for respect before entering the temple. Additionally, there is a round stone hearth to "burn" your troubles away. Pieces of paper & pens are provided for you to write your "troubles, challenges, problems" and a couple of lighters so you may burn it to ashes. As i may have written in the past, it is a cathartic experience as you watch it burn away, and up it goes in smoke. Experience it.... read more

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I can't believe how beautiful this place is. I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into when we came here, but overall, it was very majestic. The grounds are large, but you can't see it all, unless you make an appointment. Still, what you see is amazing. I don't want to spoil much, but I HIGHLY suggest visiting this location while in Kauai. read more

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Really beautiful serene place on over 300 acres of tropical landscaping. A sacred forest on site brings a powerful presence.

Stunningly beautiful. Almost 400 acre's and it's been said 1000 waterfalls could be seen after a thunder storm from the near bye temple. A must read more

Visiting this temple/monastery had been my dream of so many years. Finally we could make it this year. No words can justify our experience here. Very serene and spiritual. Maa Ishani and Maa Faith are very sweet and had been awesome guides. Out of a week we stayed in Kauai, we were so glad that we could visit the temple 3 days. We even plan to make another trip to just stay around the monastery and visit the temple for meditation and the shiva puja everyday. The nearby Rudraksha forest with the huge Hanuman statue is also great. We could feel the divine presence at both the temple and the rudraksha forest. Thanks to the monks for taking care of this beautiful monastery, rudraksha reserve and the temple. read more

If the island itself wasn't enough of a getaway, you can certainly find tranquility here! Plan before you go, especially if you'd like to participate in the prayer ceremony, which I highly recommend. Dress appropriately, and remember you'll be barefoot while walking around. Parking is limited, there are a handful of tight spots in a shaded area. The views just to the left side of Temple are breath taking. read more

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Tourist take: Yeah, you need to see this. The cultural tapestry of Kauai is enveloping enough as it stands, so sugar coating your adventures with this Hindu monastery monstrosity (I mean, it is a monstrosity, in the enlightened sense) will warp your worldview and hone a zentastic dynamic to your daily struggle of correctly pronouncing the streets and cities of Kauai. (La-hoo-ey? La-houie? La-howye?) Forget about all that for a moment, and escape to a place where the Hindu authorities, way back in the 1970's, decided they needed to place their stamp of spiritual approval. They've crafted a jaw-dropping haven of inner peace, lush opulence and, coincidentally, a mosquito temple. The basics: you should sign up for a tour, head to the website. We didn't, because we had an "in" with one of the monastery members. Our visit was brief, but mind-bending. Over the decades this Academy has imported materials from overseas and hand-built an elaborate playground of humility, just 30 minutes on the grounds delivers that Sacred thing you're looking for. Be respectful should you choose to meditate/pray, don't forget to visit the Banyan tree, and before you leave, peep the shop, where you can support the center and load up on tweetable answers to everyday Hindu queries. Also, cover yourself. Ladies, definitely wear shirts that cover your shoulders. Guys, polo shirts suffice. Wear pants or jeans, if you have 'em. They provide sarongs free of charge, should you neglect to cover your naughty parts. And here's my sole wonder: These monks, these devoted gurus, they spend years in these parts, devoting their lives to this wondrous discipline. So during meditation, how do they resist itching those skeeter bites? read more

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A MUST if you're visiting this island. Why? cause it's FREEEEE and also because you want to explore some of the culture on this island. Dress code, no bare arms or legs, BUT they provide sarongs for you to use to cover yourself up, which added to the experience. The ceremony starts at 9am and the gates leading to the temple are closed, but as we were wandering the front of the grounds one of the monks told us we could go past the gate while the ceremony was going on inside. Came on July fourth and luckily we were practically the only ones there besides those who came to pray. The Banyan tree alone is worth the trip. Google map the address and you should have no problem finding the place. read more

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Just fab! Must visit.. love the vibe here. Most amazing plants around. Feel so peaceful read more

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I'm not a Hindu but as someone close to Buddhism, this was still a worthwhile trip. I'd recommend it even for tourists visiting the area. But there are some crucial things you should know before you go, which I learned by trial and error once I got there. - Wear pants and a short-sleeve shirt, at least. Regardless of how hot it is. The dress code is strict and you will have to put on sarongs if you wear shorts or a tank top. - Be prepared to remove your shoes and walk the grounds barefoot. - Spray yourself with mosquito/bug repellant before you go in. This is crucial. There were way more mosquitos here than anywhere else on the island. I didn't realize this until after I was bitten multiple times. At the end of my self-guided tour, I visited the gift shop (yes, there's a gift shop) and realized they sell tons of mosquito repellant and anti-itch cream. For good reason, I now know! Started my journey in the front area, where many others were waiting for the gates to open. In the main area in the front, there is an area where you can write down your troubles on a piece of paper and burn it into a cauldron. They have pens and lighters but no paper so bring some of your own if you want to partake in this. Upon entering, you'll reach a very large and stunning tree. Remove your shoes and enter the tree. It's a beautiful meditation space, so long as you've got your bug repellant on, you can probably enjoy taking a seat around the tree and meditating for a bit. As you continue on, you can enter the temple (if it's after 10:45 am). If it's before 10:45, you're advised not to enter the temple unless you plan to pray. I decided to forego the temple since I wasn't praying but I still enjoyed walking around the garden and grounds and learning more about the monastery by reading the signs posted throughout. I visited the gift shop last. There are many bracelets and necklaces, as well as Hindu literature, and items for prayer shrines. The prices for some items seemed very steep but others seemed reasonable. read more

Himalayan Academy / Kauai's Hindu Monastery - Inside of the meditation tree. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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We arrived too late to go inside. So we just took pictures of the exterior grounds. It is very peaceful up there. But the one thing that I really liked was the burning of your problems in the granite cauldron. I only burned one...lol! They also have sarongs for those who are wearing shorts which are not allowed in the temple. Just a little down the road is the Sacred Forest which is adjacent to the monastery grounds. We wouldn't have known about it if it wasn't for this couple who told us about it. Very peaceful Both places are definitely worth visiting for a spiritual journey or out of curiosity. read more

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Breathtakingly beautiful setting for a spiritual experience. You do not need to follow any religion but the place is a must-visit for its trans quip environment and serenity. The ancient Rudraksha Grove is a very special place. We were lucky to see the strikingly blue fruits fallen all over the ground. They are used to make leaded necklaces. read more

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Very nice place to be. Very lush and peaceful. I loved the greenery. Nice place to take pictures, beautiful views. Beautiful inside the temple. Nice gift shop. Good selection of items. read more

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Morning mediation and tour at the monastery. Ahh. Nothing quite like this. Enjoy peaceful ground and enlightened monks. read more

Himalayan Academy / Kauai's Hindu Monastery - Entry monument. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

A must see when you are on the island. The temple grounds are serene. The topical jungle has a way of encroaching on the vast expansive grounds. Have been coming here since the early 1994 watching the slow but steady building of the temple. read more

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What a magickal gem to discover here in Kauai! Was looking for a Sacred way to begin my birthday morning and Spirit guided me here. This space is holding/channeling/emanating extremely high vibrations. It felt so right to sit in prayer in the temple. The monks chanting and holding space brought in this 'safe' feeling to be energetically open. I definitely wish to come back and learn more about the culture and their lineage. Mahalo Nui read more

Himalayan Academy / Kauai's Hindu Monastery - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

When you think "Hawaiian vacation," "Hindu Monastery" isn't usually the first thing that comes to mind. However, the Ultimate Kaua'i Guidebook swears it's well-worth a visit, and after our stroll of the grounds today I can see why. The Himalayan Academy and Monastery is situated on 350+ acres a bit inland, with spectacular views overlooking the Wailua River. And as trite as it may sound, as soon as you set foot on the grounds, an overwhelming sense of tranquility washes over you. A small gazebo near the entrance gives visitors a brief explanation of Hinduism, and of the grounds and temples which were established on Kaua'i in the early 70s. Visitors are asked to dress and behave appropriately. Which means: no shorts or skirts, no sleeveless tops, no tee-shirts, and no hats. Guidebooks and the Monastery's website make these "rules" clear; but if for some reason one arrives with improper dress, saris are provided. Tours are self-guided daily from 9-12 and visitors can drop in at any time, or guided once a week (usually Wednesdays) for 90 minutes beginning at 9 am. Reservations are a must for the guided tour. The grounds are lush and green, abundant with plant life. Incredibly friendly and informative staff in traditional Hindu garments are scattered throughout, ready to answer questions. Most impressive is the Kadavul Temple to Lord Ganesha with an enormous 16 ton statue of Nandi presiding in front. Remove your shoes and step inside the sacred space where others are engaged in silent prayer or meditation, and lovely gold statues depicting each of the 108 karanas of Lord Siva's Tandava line the walls. When you've finished touring the grounds, take a two minute drive farther up 580 to the rudraksha forest. The monks planted this grove 25 years ago, and it's the only stand of rudraksha (or Blue Marble) trees in the U.S. The trees are sacred to the Hindu religion, and the seeds are worn close to the body to bring good health and mental peace. A fabulous place to restore the soul on an already soul-restoring isle. read more

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You can't help but feel like wanting to be a better person the minute you arrive. Contrary to some things I read, there were ample parking spaces adjacent to the temple. Visitors (not worshipping) are allowed on the grounds (tree, book store/gift shop) starting at 9 am and allowed into the temple area at 10:45 until 12. You must be modestly dressed (no tanks, shorts, short skirts) or wear a temple provided sarong. In order to enter the temple, you must remove your shoes. The entire place is magical but the view from the inner courtyard is breathtaking! Regardless of your religious beliefs or non beliefs, this is something you shouldn't miss when visiting Kauai. read more

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Nice place, enjoyed joining in the puja, although we had no idea what we were supposed to do, but one young lady there explained to us what to do. Some beautiful scenery and statues, but like others have said put on the mosquito repellent as soon as you get there! Mosquitoes are *everywhere* there and a few minutes after I'd gotten out of the car, I had a number of bites already. Call ahead for the guided tour, which takes place about once a week. If you miss it, you can do a self-guided tour, but you won't be able to reserve a parking spot. It's a bit of a drive into the mountains to get there from Kapa'a, so allow at least 15 min from Kapa'a. They advise people to get there early for parking, but it actually wasn't that crowded at all the day we went (a Friday). It wasn't as big as I'd expected. You could probably see the grounds within an hour or two. The website says the puja lasts for about 1.5 hrs, but I think it took about 2 hrs the day we went. (There's an "intermission" in the middle, where they close the curtains for a while, and then they open them maybe 30 min later). If you stay to the end, you'll get to participate in receiving the holy ash, some milky liquid which you drink, various other pigmented powders and pastes which you apply to your forehead, and a flower. They also bring some flames around for people to wave their hands over...it's hard to explain, especially since I don't even understand all the symbolism. The monk also goes outside to make offerings to the statues and objects in front of the temple, such as fresh flowers and cooked rice (which sets the birds in a frenzy!). There's a gift shop with some nice items and interesting southern Indian cookbooks, including a cookbook written by the monks themselves--as a result, some of the recipes are for large groups, like 20, but some are for smaller groups. You must dress modestly (no t-shirts, no shorts, no short dresses, etc.), but they provide sarongs for covering up if people arrive in inappropriate attire. You must remove your shoes to enter the temple or the area near the temple (it's marked). read more

We've been twice. Once to just see the entrance grounds, and another time for the tour. Either way is worth it, but if you can, call ahead and make reservations for the tour. By the way, if you really want to take the tour and can't get a reservation, you could take a cab from Kapaa. The reservation is just for a parking spot. The grounds are peaceful and beautiful. The tour was friendly and informative (a quick intro to the Hindu religion, the founders of the monastery, explanation of grounds, and a walk around the AMAZING hand-carved temple.) Yes, the mosquitos are particularly bad here. Put on bug juice BEFORE you go in. One of the guests asked if it was okay to slap a mosquito, considering the non-violent principles of Hinduism. The guide had a great answer - that it was okay, since it was a "home invasion". Funny. read more

Himalayan Academy / Kauai's Hindu Monastery - The temple itself. You need a tour reservation to see this amazing work. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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**************** SERENITY ************ This place is amazing and beautiful. They have a dress code to dress modestly. They provide sarongs to cover your shoulders or if you are wearing shorts. It is very quiet here and most people whisper, kids are not recommended unless they are well behaved. The plants and views are stunning. If you are thinking about going I would highly recommend it. Nice gift shop too. read more

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I came here on my birthday to get blessings and to start my new year off peacefully. We found it easily and parking was right up front. We were a little confused as to what to do when we arrived as the gates were locked (and it was time for the prayer service to begin) and no staff anywhere to be found. There were a few sarongs to borrow if you didn't heed the dress code (no exposed shoulders and legs) Once the door opened, the staff led us to the temple area for the shiva puja. After removing shoes, we were able to sit on floor pillows and view the puja. After the puja was over, you could stay for meditation. There were also little papers and pencil to write your wishes/desires for the gods to read. After we were blessed, we walked around the site for the beautiful vistas. It is a truly calming place and so, so quiet. I spent some time in silence in the meditation tree garden. It's amazing how serene it was in there for the few minutes I had. I went to the shop to see the rudrak beads, that are native to this island the forest nearby. I purchased some and found that the number of faces was representative of what you are searching for. Plus it supports the temple. I felt great after we visited and would come for another visit or tour next time. read more

Absolutely fabulous. It was quite informative. Out of respect, please be sure to wrap up if you are wearing shorts, short dress or tank top. Sarongs are available at the entrance. Be sure to make an appointment for the tour and to reserve a parking space. Here are a few photos I took. read more

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Make sure you check their hours before you visit. I arrived at 11am just in time for the blessing and watching the monk feed the birds. Grounds close at noon and puja is from 9-10:45am. There are plenty of parking spots on site. I arrived in a Lyft and had to hitchhike my way back down. Make sure you arrange your ride back if you're using rideshare. Dress code is strict, arms and legs need to be covered down to the ankles. Sarongs are available for use. No shoes in the temple. You can write your wishes to the gods on the available pieces of paper to be burned by the monks later. There are a few spots to meditate next to the enormous Banyan tree. 9am tours to see the new temple are available via advance sign up. Careful of the mosquitoes, they ate me alive. read more

Himalayan Academy / Kauai's Hindu Monastery - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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We were really surprised this place existed, and enjoyed our time walking the Beautiful grounds. I think it's also nice that they provide sari's for those who are dressed for the beach. I only took off one star because someone was running a buzz saw on site the entire time we were trying to enjoy the tranquility of the monastery. read more

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I truly wish I did not do the guided tour. I truly, truly wish that. They force you to sit through an hour lecture which I guess is supposed to be about the history of the Monastery and a bit about Hinduism but it felt more like I was at a Timeshare meeting but the tour guide was selling their books and Noni juice. Sheesh! We started walking the grounds and the tour guide just would NOT shut up. He just kept talking nonsense and going off on tangents, I honestly couldn't bare to listen to him anymore. I left early. I will not return. read more

STUNNINGLY beautiful grounds and a huge impressive still-being-built granite temple! If you do nothing else, just wander through the gardens and around the temple. The smaller temple is beautiful, too, and lined with gold Shiva statuettes in various poses as well as a huge gold Ganesha statue and an enormous crystal. We had the opportunity to participate in a Hindu service in the smaller temple. A monk welcomed us to join the hour-long service in process and helped us through the various rituals. Yes, the regulars snickered at those who didn't know the basic women-on-the-left, men-on-the-right custom, but all in all they were quite accommodating of those who tried to be respectful. A Hindu attendee told me afterward that the ceremony was totally "by the book". The hour-long tour is free, and our guide was knowledgeable and entertaining. It does seem a bit like a sales pitch at times, and you're encouraged to donate $. The fundraising chart shows $11 million dollars raised toward their $16 million goal, and it left me wondering what $16 million could accomplish in a poor country like India. read more

What a WONDERFUL place! We love visiting temples, churches, monasteries, etc. and we did the 9am guided tour of the Hindu Temple in Kapaa. In a word AMAZING. The huge piece of land is immaculately cared for and the environment is peaceful and powerful. The tour was well done and allows you to view the grounds and visit the new temple (the first hand carved temple produced in centuries) and wraps up in the current temple. The history is rich, the grounds lush and the tour was enlightening. This is well worth the time for anyone, whether a student of eastern religions or not. Some tips: The tour is free but call ahead to reserve a parking space If you wear shorts, a tank top or short skirt you must wear a sarong that they supply Bring cash to donate to the cause or at least buy something in the shop...we need to support this wonderful gift Leave your stress at the gate and enjoy the serenity read more

We were lucky enough to experience one of the guided tours of the monastery while we were on Kaua'i. This place is amazing. Spiritual and enlighening aside, they have an EXPANSIVE and GORGEOUS botantical garden. Of course, the temple they are currently building completely out of hand carved granite is nothing to sneeze at either. Definitely one of the best part of our trip, highly recommended. Even if you can't go on a guided tour day you should still visit and walk around the grounds on your own. As one person in my party puts it, "this place is as close to paradise as you can get." For me, it was nothing short of heaven on earth (minus a few mosquito bites). ##### 2007 Tour Dates: April: 13, 19, 26 May: 4, 11, 18, 25 June: 5, 12, 19, 26 July: 3, 10, 16, 23 August: 1, 16, 23, 30 September: 6, 13, 21, 28 October: 5, 12, 17, 24, 31 Dress code: We ask visitors to bring an umbrella and wear modest clothing, no shorts, short dresses, t-shirts, tank tops. Polo shirts are okay. Hindu dress is ideal. read more

This is from the past years' experience: I visit Kauai about once a year. Every time I visit the island, I like to visit this place. Tip1: Check their website for schedule on visiting hours, guided tours. Tip2: Keep your skin covered. Tip3: A lot of mosquitos are expected due to the rain and moisture. Tip4: Get a good map. It is not easy to find. A lot of unique plants at site. I love this quiet forest with nice view of mountain and the river. Behind the temple, there is a small little garden with blue marbles - unreal! YELP 365 - 331/365 read more

AMAZING place. Even for non-Hindus, the grounds are worth a visit, and were a highlight of our trip to the island. They perform daily siva puja at 9am. See their website for more details. http://gurudeva.org/ read more

This place thrums with spiritual energy and unreal beauty. I didn't get to take the guided tour (they were closed for a retreat) but the grounds by the little temple were open and you still get that surreal view of the river, and can pay your respects to Ganesh in the banyan tree and Shiva dancing by the pool. The reservations are only for parking spots, so take a taxi or hitch a ride. A half mile down the road is a sacred grove of Rudraksha trees to wander. We met some of the stone carvers from India and one of them was very friendly, showed us pictures of their progress on the big temple and found several choice five-faced seeds that he offered to us, explaining how to clean and drill them to make a necklace. read more

Hindu Temple tour - we did this last year too. It's a free guided tour (donations happily accepted) usually every Wednesday at 9:00 am, but you must call first and get a parking reservation. The temple is being hand built and carved - absolutely amazing. They have 300 acres, most all of it landscaped. Gorgeous plants, trees, flowers, ponds.....The tour lasts about 90 minutes and you don't need to be Hindu to appreciate it. Well worth the time. We met the friends at Lydgate and drove up together. This was their first time for the tour and they really enjoyed it! Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/3ChihuahuasMama/HinduTempleOct202010# read more

Wow... breathtaking... I came to this island to recharge my energy due to a personal life changing issue.... I knew I had to come here and I am so glad I did. I am also glad I read up on it before showing up so I was dressed appropriately. Men and women must have their legs and their shoulders covered. There are sarongs they're complementary to borrow in the event you're not covered. Also prayer service is from 9 to 12 then they close the gates. I hope to come back once a month for this experience read more

Who knew there was a really nice Hindu monastery in beautiful Kauai! Such an idyllic location with the sounds and views of flowing water, lots of greenery, amazing banyan trees and just a great spiritual setting. I wish I could have spent more time there and learned more about their history but it was too hot and humid for me. Yes, I am a spoilt city slicker. read more

Continuing along Hwy 580W, around 4th mile marker you turn left on Kaholalele Rd to enter into Hindu monastery. Felt peaceful and divine being in that place. The temple is closed to public at noon and hindus are allowed inside during ceremonies. It was drizzling a bit and weather was perfect (not sultry). We weren't bothered by mosquitoes or any insects. They have a telescope to view their upcoming temple construction across the river. Construction is supposed to complete in 2017. We drove further on Hwy 50W and stopped at the Rudraksha tree garden. Couple of benches are placed for meditating. Definitely traveling to Kauai again and visiting the temple. read more

One of the best things we did on Kauai. Definitely worth visiting, whether you're Hindu (we aren't) or just open-minded to other people's paths. A palpable peace in this place. Be sure to go all the way to the end, to see the amazing cliff / view of a small valley, and the new temple that is being built. Amazing. read more

Very serene and beautiful temple with stunning views of the new temple and river. The huge banyan tree creates an ideal meditative atmosphere. read more

Himalayan Academy / Kauai's Hindu Monastery - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

what a great find in an amazing setting. there's so much to see here including a rudraksha forest up the road the temple is still being built read more

On the plus side, the inner temple has a very peaceful feel. Definitely has the right sort of "meditative atmosphere." The rest of the grounds also has some interesting spots, such as the path under the banyan tree which leads to a granite statue of a six-faced deity, and the vista looking out over the river and in the distance, towards the very impressive new white and gold Iraivan temple being built. The Minimela bookstore also has a goodly assortment of sacred items and beautifully illustrated books. As a whole though, the place is significantly smaller than I had anticipated, and parking was a nightmare. We went on a Sunday morning, and the parking lot at one point was so jammed with cars waiting for a spot that you could neither move forward nor back out. Tempers flared as tourists fought over parking spaces. Definitely not the sort of experience one would want to encounter at the beginning of a visit to a spiritual site. (There is no street parking at all available in the vicinity.) It looked like there was a second parking area further in, but for some reason the gate to that lot was closed. Tip: the website mentions that no shorts, tank tops, etc. are allowed inside, and though that is true, you can actually just borrow one of the sarongs that are available at the entryway if you are not appropriately garbed. read more