Read light areas in any city are associated with the activities of prostitution and the same line of business. Sex related businesses are conducted in such areas, which include multiple services like strip clubs, adult theatres, and female prostitution for sexual activities. Nowadays, red light areas are not only known for female sex workers but also for male prostitution and gay venues.
Key Factors of Read Lights Areas
Let’s know some key factors of Read Light Areas that help in understanding the topic easily.
Sex Related Business Concentrated – Such places in any city are known for a very high volume of sex workers or sexual business activities.
Prostitutes are the main players – Prostitutes are available in such areas with very high volumes that can be extended to 2000 in numbers. While red-light areas are part of the city’s underground scene, many prefer the privacy and professionalism of Delhi escorts for a safer, discreet experience.
Why is it called Red Light Areas?
As we know, Red light always indicates the uncomfortable zone or danger, thus it indicates the area of brothels. Such places may be legal or illegal based on the location and, of course, not for underage children.
A Short View on GB Road, Delhi Origin
| Pre-colonial | Courtesans held cultural status; no formal red-light area |
| Colonial Regulation | Under British rule; rise of GB Road as red-light district |
| Post-1947 | Brothels continued under legal grey areas. |
| Modern Era | NGOs intervene, legal issues persist, and the area remains active. |
The Interesting and Deep History of the Red Light Area in Delhi
The place was officially renamed as Swami Shradhanand Marg, but is still popular by its old name, that is GB Road at present. The full form of GB Road, Delhi, is Garstin Bastion Road. This road lies between Ajmeri Gate and Lahori Gate in Delhi. If we talk about the numbers, then more than a hundred brothels are running on the street. These are multi-story buildings associated with more than 3000 sex workers. It is known as the main Red Light District of Delhi. A huge number of prostitution rooms and kothas are located here to offer sexual services to the clients.
Mughal and Pre-Colonial Periods
The history of the Red light area in Delhi is not easy to understand. It is deeply rooted in the British Raj and the Colonial Era. It was the time when sex work and associated activities were unorganised. At that time, such females called Courtesan (Tawaifs) were associated with cultural activities including music, dance (Mujra) and poetry. The house or the building they lived in was called Kothas. At that time, Kothas were not considered as disreputable places like brothels are considered nowadays. Those talented and skilled dancers performed high-level dance performances to entertain the clients. Their services were known as a sign of cultural significance in society.
British Colonial Era
The British came with a different set of mind and started systematising things. They played a main role in systematising the sex work in India, including Delhi. In the 19th Century, the soldiers were diseased, and it became important to control the spread of diseases. This control led to regulating the Red Light Districts. In such a manner, the Contagious Disease Act was enforced. Under this act, the sex workers were registered and found to have STDs.
The Origin of GB Road Delhi
GB Road (Garstin Bastion Road) was developed at that time. A commercial area of Hardware and Machinery shops was developed. The locality had multistory buildings, in which the ground floors were associated with shops that ran in the day, and when the shop shutters shut down, then the market turned into Prostitution activities. After the independence, the GB ROAD Delhi area remained a hub for sex work. However, it had to face legal challenges because prostitution is not legal in India. So many issues occurred, like human trafficking, corruption activities, the spread of disease due to lack of healthcare and others.
At Present, GB Road, Delhi, is one of the largest Red Light Area in Delhi. More than a hundred brothels are running here, where more than three thousand sex workers are actively operating. People came here for entertaining sexual services, not only from India but from different countries. Professional sex workers offer a variety of services to their customers.
List of Red Light Areas in India
Not only in Delhi, but Red Light Districts are situated in different cities in India. Sonagachi, Kolkata, is known as the First & largest Red Light District of Asia. It is estimated that more than 20,000 sex workers are actively operating in Sonagachi. After Sonagachi, Kamathipura in Mumbai is known as the second-largest Light Area in India. Here is a list of Red Light Districts in India with Location & Address.
List of Red Light Areas in India with Address
| State | District | Area | Address |
| Bihar | Muzaffarpur | Chaturbhuj Sthan | Chaturbhuj Sthan, Mahammadpur Kazi, Musahri, Muzaffarpur, Bihar 842001 |
| Bihar | Sitamarhi | Boha Tola | Sitamarhi, Bihar |
| Delhi | New Delhi | Garstin Bastion Road | Garstin Bastion Road |
| Gujarat | Surat | Chakla Bazar | Indraprasth Market Khapatia Chakla Chauta Bazar, Chauta Bazar Rd, Chauta Pul, Gopipura, Surat, Gujarat 395003 |
| Madhya Pradesh | Gwalior | Rashmpura | Reshampura, Madhya Pradesh 474010 |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai | Kamathipura | Kamathipura, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Maharashtra | Nagpur | Ganga Jamuna, SMS King, Itwari | Ganga jamuna, Masurkar Marg, Ladpura, Itwari, Nagpur, Maharashtra 440002 |
| Maharashtra | Pune | Budhwar Peth | Budhwar Peth, Pune, Maharashtra 411002 |
| Rajasthan | Bundi | Mohanpura | Mohanpura, Madhya Pradesh 465674 |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur | Tilawala | Tilawala, Jaipur, Rajasthan 303906 |
| Rajasthan | Jodhpur | Jawaharkhana Ghaas Mandi | Jawahar Khana Rd & Ghasmandi Rd, Shastri Nagar, Rawaton Ka Bass, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342001 |
| Telangana | Hyderabad | Mehboob Ki mehandi | Mehboob ki Mehndi, Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Uttar Pradesh | Prayagraj | Meergunj | Mohatsim Ganj, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211003 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Meerut | Kabadi Bazar | Kabari Bazaar, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh 250002 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Varanasi | Dalamandi, near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple | Dalmandi Rd, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Varanasi | Shivdaspur | Shivdas Pur, Uttar Pradesh 247451 |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | Bowbazar | Bowbazar, Kolkata, West Bengal |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | Garia | Garia, Kolkata, West Bengal |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | Kalighat | Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | Kidderpore | Khidirpur, Kolkata, West Bengal |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | Kada Road, Durgapur | Kada Rd, Main Gate, Durgapur, West Bengal 713203 |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | Lebu Bagan | PHALGUNI APARTMENT, BONHOOGHLY LEBUBAGAN, 6A/F-3, MNK Rd, Bonhooghly Government Colony, Kolkata, West Bengal 700108 |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | Sonagachi | Sonagachi, Sovabazar, Baghbazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700005 |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | Tollygunge | Tollygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal |
Presence of Red Light Areas in the Whole Words
Not only in Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai in India, but Red light areas are located worldwide. De Wallen (Dutch), Amsterdam, Netherlands, is the world’s No. 1 and largest red light area.
- Amsterdam, Netherlands – De Wallen
- Bangkok, Thailand – Patpong
- Hamburg, Germany – Reeperbahn
- Tokyo, Japan – Kabukicho
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Copacabana
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Bui Vien Street
- Bogotá, Colombia – Santa Fe
- Las Vegas, USA – The Strip
- Frankfurt, Germany – Bahnhofsviertel
- Paris, France – Pigalle
- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – Zona Colonial
FAQs-
Which is the Largest Red Light Area in India?
Sonagachi, Kolkata, is Asia’s largest Red Light District, where an estimated twenty thousand sex workers operate.
Is Prostitution legal in India?
Prostitution in India is legal; however, other related activities like child prostitution, hotel escorts, and owning or managing a brothel are illegal.
Can a client of prostitution be penalised or not?
According to the present scenario, private prostitution is not considered an offence. In that case, the client will not be penalised, and there is no provision for the same.
Is the Red Light Area legal in India?
There is no such provision in India that red light areas are illegal. However, if it is found in public places like Institutions, colleges & schools, entertainment parks, temples, etc, then it is prohibited and penalised under Section 7 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
Can a person be punished if he contacts the Escorts, call girls or any escort service provider?
There is no such law under which a customer can be punished for contacting the escorts or any escort agency.