Popular Temple
Shri Karni Mata Temple, Deshnok
Deshnok, Bikaner district, Rajasthan
The 'Rat Temple' — home to thousands of sacred rats revered as the goddess's own children
At a glance
- Location
- Deshnok, Bikaner district, Rajasthan
- Presiding deity
- Karni Mata (a form of Durga)
- Temple type
- Popular Temple
- Tradition
- Shakta
- Nearest railway station
- Deshnok railway station (~0.5 km, right by the temple)
- Nearest airport
- Bikaner Airport (~35 km)
- Best time to visit
- October to March, avoiding Rajasthan's peak heat; a special fair is held during Navratri.
History
Karni Mata temple is unique for housing roughly 25,000 rats ("kabas"), considered sacred and treated as the goddess's own children, fed milk and grain by devotees. Legend holds that when a devotee's son died, Karni Mata persuaded Yama to revive him as a rat, and since then her followers are believed to be reborn as temple rats. The present structure was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the early 20th century.
Spiritual significance
Devotees let the rats move freely across the temple floor, and spotting a rare white rat is considered especially auspicious.
Plan your visit
Darshan timings
4:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Timings change on festivals and special occasions. Confirm with the temple's official source before you travel.
Deshnok railway station has regular trains from Bikaner; the temple is just a few minutes' walk from the station.
Continue your Durga bhakti
Devotional texts for this deity, already on the site.