In year 1991, the Kerala High Court barred the entry of women above the age of 10 and below the age of 50 to the Sabarimala temple.
However, on 28th September 2018, the Supreme Court of India, reversed the ban on the entry of women, stating that the selective ban on women was unconstitutional and discriminatory.
In 2016, protestors successfully canvassed to end a ban on women entering the Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra.
Women were also allowed to go in the Hajji Ali Dargah in Mumbai after the Supreme Court ‘s verdict against a ban in 2016.
There are few more famous holy places in India where women are still not allowed or partially allowed to pay a visit.
Rishi Dhroom Ashram in Uttar Pradesh doesn’t allow women to pay a visit as people believe that the saint gets irritated on seeing women, leading to drought-like situations in the area.
The Patbaushi Satra in Assam bars women entry to preserve its purity, mentioning menstruation as the cause.
Karnataka’s Lord Annappa Temple prohibits women and children owing to the temple’s “legend and lore”.
Here’s a list of popular temples in India that don’t allow or partially allow women to pay a visit.
1. Jama Masjid, Delhi
Women are not permitted in the sites of the mosque after sunset or Maghrib prayers.
The Jama Masjid of Delhi is one of the largest mosques in India.
2. Nizamuddin Dargah, Delhi
Women are permitted into the premises of Nizamuddin Dargah however they are not allowed to go inside the space where the 14th-century Sufi saint lived, passed away and was buried.
The site is also known for its evening qawwali devotional music sessions. The descendants of Nizamuddin Auliya look after the entire administration of dargah Sharif.
3. Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kerala
Women are not allowed to enter the treasure house of the centuries-old temple, but they can worship the god.
Sree Padmanabhaswamy is the tutelary deity of the royal family of Travancore.
4. Ranakpur Jain Temple, Rajasthan
Ranakpur Jain temple is a renowned Jain temple at Ranakpur is dedicated to Tirthankara Rishabhanatha.
The temple limits the visit of menstruating women. The temple also restricts women wearing western outfits and accessories inside the premises. Women devotees are also required to cover their legs.
The temple has an intrinsic architecture and this temple is also famous for arts on the wall.
5. Rishi Dhroom Ashram and Temple, Uttar Pradesh
Women are not allowed inside the temple as people believe that the saint gets angry on seeing women, leading to drought-like situations in the area.
Women devotees are permitted to pray only from the outside the temple.
6. Lord Annappa Temple, Karnataka
Lord Annappa Swamy temple at Dharmasthala restricts women entering the temple.
According to an information available in the temple website, “entry of children and women is restricted to this hill owing to the legend and lore of the temple.”
7. Lord Kartikeya Temple, Rajasthan
The Lord Kartikeya temple restricts women entering the temple over a belief that the divinity curses women who enter the temple.
The temple worships the brahmachari or celibate form of Lord Kartikeya.
