Deshnoke is a small town in Rajasthan’s Bikaner region, around 30 kilometres from Bikaner and close the Pakistan border. Deshnoke is known for the 600-year-old Karni Mata Temple, which is dedicated to rats. Since ancient times, the goddess Karni Mata has been revered by both the royal family and the ordinary populace in Bikaner and other regions of Rajasthan.

ABOUT THE TEMPLE:

The Karni Mata Temple at Deshnoke, 30 km from Bikaner, India, is one of the strangest temples in the world. The temple is home to over 20,000 rats, that not only live and dine within the temple premises but are actually worshipped by devotes who throng the temple in great numbers. These holy animals are called “kabbas”, and many people travel long distances to pay their respects.

The rats are absolutely everywhere, from the door handles to the grills to the ledges around the side of the marble constructs. They can be seen in dozens crowded around pots of milk, coconut shells and various other foodstuffs that are scattered across the temple.