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Lands inhabited solely by women are a recurring theme in Indian folklore. In one tale, the Sage Matsyendrānath is cursed by the goddess Pārvartī so that he forgets his asceticism and is enchanted and deluded by the wiles of the women of Kadalī. #FolkloreThursday 
Some versions of this tale have Matsyendrā voluntarily entering the land of women and becoming the lover of Queen Mainākinī and her 1600 courtesans. Orders come from the Queen and Matsyendra that no men – and particularly no yogis - be allowed into the kingdom.
Eventually Goraknath turns up – and in some versions of the tale – he fights Hanuman – who, due to Queen Mainākinī’s devotions, is enforcing the order that no man may enter the kingdom – and argues his way past Rama.
Disguised as a female musician, Goraknath performs before the court. Making his drum speak to Matsyendranath, he exhorts Matsyendra to wake up and remember that women are an obstacle to yoga.
Matsyendrā recognizes Goraknath but is still reluctant to leave. In some versions, Queen Mainākinī gives birth to Matsyendrā’s son – whom Goraknath kills, and then subsequently brings back to life as an extreme wake-up call to Matsyendrā.
One of the earliest tales of the Land of Women is the Buddhist Siṃhalāvadāna. A merchant named Siṃhalā sets off on a trading mission with 499 other merchants. They are shipwrecked on the island Tāmradvīpa which, to their delight, they find is inhabited only by beautiful women.
The merchants disport themselves happily with the women for 7 days, but then a lamp in Siṃhalā's room speaks out to him in human voice, saying it is the deity Avalokiteśvara and warning that the women are demonesses (rākṣasī) who devour all those who are marooned on the island.
Avalokiteśvara tells Siṃhalā and his companions to go to the seashore, where a winged horse named Balāha will carry them to safety, warning them not to look back at the island when they flee.
The merchants climb aboard the winged horse, but still thinking of the pleasures they were leaving behind, they look back at the island, after which they fall off Balāha and are eaten by the pursuing rākṣasīs - only Siṃhalā was saved.
A completely different Land of Women appears in Tamil folk tales such as the Peṇṇaricayar Katai which tells the story of Puruṣā Tēvi, the daughter of queen Peṇṇaraci, who presides over a country of women, Peṇṇaraci is impregnated by the south wind rather than a male.
Another Tamil folk tale, the Alliyarasanimalai depicts a land of strong, independent women living peacefully and not dependent (or interested in) men. Quite unlike the rapacious demonesses or seductresses of the Buddhist or Nath stories.
