Red light areas are those parts of an urban region where sex prevails as a business and prostitution are sold in open, a sad reality of human life. Women here are trafficked and sometimes tortured to be in the business. Areas in many big cities around the world have acquired an international reputation as red-light districts. Here are such red light areas of India.

Shonagachi- West Bengal

Sonagachi is a different world in itself and unfortunately owns the title of Asia’s largest red-light area. Approximately 11,000 sex workers live here and the pictures are disturbing. Young girls are trafficked her almost every day. They usually belong to far off villages usually, brought here with the false promise of jobs. This place has been in existence since the city came into existence but the condition of women living here is getting worse.

Kamathipuram- Mumbai

Kamathipuram is India’s second-largest red light district and the number of sex workers is increasing. This area came into existence when Britisher made it so that their soldiers can get relaxation and pleasure. Gangsters like Haji Mastan and Dawood Ibrahim frequently visited Kamathipuram, in the 80s and the situation of the area hasn’t changed a bit.

Budhwar Peth red light area- Pune

Budhwar Peth the third largest red in India with around 700 brothels and 5000 commercial sex workers. The area suffers from sex trafficking, child prostitution, and police corruption. HIV was previously a large problem, but an HIV/AIDS program, including education and condom distribution, has resulted in a considerably reduced HIV prevalence. 

Meergunj, Uttar Pradesh

Meergunj is a less known red light district. Apart from local girls, trafficking is very high here. Girls enter this area by mostly trafficking and violence is high, so they are unable to escape. This area is also a hub of gangsters and goons.  Many people do not know about it or simply ignore it because of the high violence rates.

G.B. Road Red light area, New Delhi

Garstin Bastion Road is a road that runs from Ajmeri Gate to Lahori Gate, in Delhi, India. There are approximately a hundred brothels in this area and trafficked girls are in the majority.

Chaturbujstan, Bihar

Not many people know about this red light area And such a place in Muzaffarpur exists. The origin story is very interesting. This came into existence in the Mughal Era, which makes Chaturbujstan one of the oldest red light areas of the country. The Chaturbhuj Sthan temple is the focal point of the area and, It is strange to see brothels existing around a temple.

Shivdaspur red light area, Varanasi

Shivdaspur came into existence in the 1970s but today this place is running out of business. This place may close down soon.

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