We are all well aware of the hullabaloo that has been going on around the Sabarimala temple. On September 28 this year, a constitutional bench of five Supreme Court judges headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra lifted a centuries-old ban that did not let women between the ages of 10 and 50 years enter the Lord Ayyappa temple premises.

The ban on women of menstruating age had been in place because Lord Ayyappa was said to be a celibate god, born out of a union of Lord Shiva and Vishnu to destroy a female demon. In order to not distract him from his celibate duties, women were not allowed to visit him and thus, the infamous ban.

But, the Supreme Court recently lifted it and that opened the gates for a lot of protests, both from men and women.

But the Sabarimala temple is not the only religious place that denies women entry. Many famous places in India are on the list. Take a look:

LORD KARTIKEYA TEMPLE, PUSHKAR

If you thought Sabarimala was the only temple where women were denied entry, you have a surprise coming your way. The Lord Kartikeya temple worships the brahmachari’ form of the god, and thus women should not enter the temple premises at all. Word has it that the lord curses women who enter the temple instead of blessing them. Bizarre much?

PATBAUSI SATRA, ASSAM

Menstruation is cited as the reason why women are banned from entering this temple. The authorities believe that they pose a threat to the purity of the temple. In 2010, the then Governor of Assam JB Patnaik took a group of 20 women inside the temple after speaking to the Patbausi Satra authorities. Post this incident, the Satra was open to women for a very short period of time, before the rule was eventually re-imposed.

NIZAMUDDIN DARGAH, DELHI

Women are allowed to enter the premises of this mosque, but not the main sanctum. They can offer their prayers at the shrine from a distance. The same is the case with Jama Masjid in Delhi too.

HAZRATBAL MOSQUE, SRINAGAR

Another beautiful white mosque situated on the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar, this holy place denies entry to women in the main building. They can stay outside in a hall from where they can offer their prayers. The inner sanctum that houses the Prophet's beard is not for women to visit.

SREE PADMANABHASWAMY TEMPLE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

At this temple in Kerala, although women are allowed to worship the deity, they are not allowed to wander into the temple chambers. Even the women officials are not allowed to enter the holy vaults. Weird, right?

Surprised and infuriated already? Wait a bit, because we have a bomb coming your way. These are not the only religious places that do not allow women to enter their premises. These places are all devoted to male gods and cite menstruation as the main reason why women are denied entry. But the famous Kamakhya temple in Assam, where the bleeding goddess Kamakhya is worshipped, denies entry to women while they are menstruating.

It is an unwritten code that is followed in all Hindu temples: women don't enter temples when on periods.

At the Kamakhya temple, there is no idol to worship except a stone structure of Kamakhya Devi’s yoni’ or vagina. Every year, a 15-day fertility festival called the Ambubachi Mela is held at the temple. It is said that the goddess goes through her yearly menstrual cycle during this time and the event is celebrated with a lot of pomp and glory. But what is bizarre and ironic is that women in India still have to bear the brunt of not entering temples during menstruation... even at a temple dedicated to it!

ALSO SEE: 2 women return from Sabarimala doorstep