Karni Mata Temple
The Sacred Temple of Rats at Deshnoke
Overview
Karni Mata Temple at Deshnoke, about 30 km south of Bikaner in Rajasthan, India, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Karni Mata, a 14th to 15th-century sage revered as an incarnation of the goddess Durga. It is known worldwide as the 'Temple of Rats': roughly 20,000 rodents called kaba live in the shrine and are venerated as reincarnated devotees of the goddess. The present marble-and-silver structure was completed under Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner in the early 20th century. MyTripMyTravel arranges a respectful, escorted visit with the context this genuinely unusual site deserves.
Karni Mata Temple is one of India's most misunderstood monuments, and one of its most sincerely devotional. To a first-time visitor it is 'the rat temple'; to the Charan community and the thousands of pilgrims who come here, it is the shrine of a revered saint whose devotees are believed to return as the kaba, the temple rats, before being reborn again as Charans.
The building itself is finer than its reputation suggests: a marble facade with solid-silver doors and gilded panels, commissioned by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner, enclosing a courtyard where the rats move freely among worshippers. Grain, milk and sweets are laid out for them, and spotting one of the rare white kaba is considered especially auspicious.
MyTripMyTravel visits Karni Mata honestly and respectfully, as a working pilgrimage site, not a spectacle, with an escort who explains the belief system and manages the practicalities (feet must be bare, the floor is shared with the animals) so the experience is comfortable and dignified.
At a glance
Karni Mata Temple in brief
What to see
Highlights
Silver doors & marble facade
The gilded silver gates and carved marble front added under the Bikaner royal house.
The kaba (sacred rats)
Thousands of temple rats venerated as reincarnated devotees, fed and protected within the shrine.
The white rat
A rare pale kaba, considered a blessing and an incarnation of Karni Mata's own kin.
The inner sanctum
The image of Karni Mata, garlanded and worshipped by a steady flow of Charan pilgrims.
Communal feeding
The large dishes of grain and milk that sustain the colony and structure the day's rituals.
Visitor information
Our tips
Wear socks, footwear is removed and the marble floor is shared with the rats.
Treat it as an active shrine, not a curiosity; our escort sets the right tone.
Spotting a white kaba is considered a blessing, watch the feeding dishes.
Combine with Bikaner's Junagarh Fort for a fuller day in the region.
Good to know
Karni Mata Temple, your questions
Is Karni Mata really full of rats?
Yes, some 20,000 rats live in the temple and are venerated as reincarnated devotees of the goddess. It is a sincere pilgrimage site, and we visit it respectfully, not as a spectacle.
Is it safe and hygienic to visit?
The rats are habituated and generally keep to the edges and feeding areas. Feet are bare, so we suggest socks; our escort guides you through comfortably.
How far is it from Bikaner?
About 30 km south, at Deshnoke, an easy chauffeured excursion, often paired with Junagarh Fort in the city.
Is the white rat real?
Yes, a small number of pale kaba live among the colony, and sighting one is considered especially auspicious.
More in Bikaner
Visit with us
See Karni Mata Temple, properly.
A private, chauffeured visit with a licensed expert guide, timed for the best light and the smallest crowds. We fold Karni Mata Temple into a wider Bikaner and Rajasthan Escapes itinerary, built entirely around you.
- Skip the queue where possible, at the right hour
- Licensed local guide who brings the story to life
- Private car and chauffeur, door to door
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