Trending: A Tourist at Karnataka’s temple seen in a heated clash with staff for wearing slippers

The tourist was seen confronting the staff for wearing slippers in Karnataka’s Badami Cave Temples, drawing sharp reactions from netizens.

A video has recently been doing the rounds on the internet, showing how a tourist at Karnataka’s Badami Cave Temples objected to staff wearing slippersin the temple. The tourist was seen confronting an ASI employee, questioning why she was inside the premises wearing slippers.

A tourist was seen confronting an ASI employee for wearing slippers in the temple.

The video, which has now gone viral on the internet, shows a heated argument breaking out at the historic Menabasidi site in Badami town, Karnataka, after a tourist allegedly objected to an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) staff memberentering the monument while wearing footwear. The confrontation was captured on video at the Badami Cave Temples in Bagalkote district, sparking widespread debate over temple decorum, heritage site regulations, and public conduct. The tourist questioned the ASI employee why she was inside the premises wearing slippers. She demanded that senior officials address the issue. According to those present, the tourist accused the staff member of disrespecting religious sentiments by walking or sitting in the temple complex with footwear on.

Watch the viral video here:

https://x.com/ndtv/status/2056599555974869157?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2056599555974869157%7Ctwgr%5Ebd58aee3389c6bc183dba2ea8fc8aa9b9fe1fe1e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ndtv.com%2Findia-news%2Fheated-clash-at-karnatakas-badami-cave-temples-after-tourist-objects-to-staff-wearing-slippers-11518500

Netizens react to the viral video.

The incident has divided netizens. Many social media users supported the tourist, arguing that the 6th century Badami Cave Temples are sacred spaces where everyone, including government staff, should remove footwear to preserve religious sanctity. Many others criticised the manner of the confrontation and accused the tourist of selectively enforcing rules. Several users noted that the tourist herself, other visitors, and even security personnel visible in the video were all wearing footwear in the same area. A few, however, claimed that the staff member was wearing shoes in the ‘garbhagruha’, where footwear is prohibited.

The staff member responded that she was following existing duty instructions and asked the tourist to verify the rules with higher authorities regarding footwear regulations for staff working within the protected monument area. After more people gathering around, the exchange became increasingly emotional. In the video, the staff member appeared visibly distressed and was later seen crying while speaking to her supervisor over the phone.