Last updated: October 2026 · Method: built from published site information and recurring visitor reports; the etiquette section is mandatory content — read it before going.
Karni Mata Temple at Deshnoke is India’s famous rat temple — a 15th-century shrine where thousands of sacred black rats (kabas) live, are fed, and are considered family members of the deity’s clan. It is one of the strangest and most genuinely devout places in Rajasthan, and this guide exists to make you a respectful visitor, not a squeamish tourist.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Deshnoke, ~30 km south of Bikaner (Jodhpur direction) |
| Open | Roughly 4 AM–10 PM; early morning is the calmest window |
| Entry | Free; shoe removal at the gate (stockings sold/available — take them) |
| Time needed | 45–60 minutes |
The belief, framed honestly
The temple holds Karni Mata, a 14th–15th century female warrior-saint held as an incarnation of Durga, as its deity; the rats are held as her storytellers’ clan reborn, and spotting a white rat among the thousands is the blessing devotees hope for. Whether one accepts the tradition or not, this is living worship, not a spectacle: the folk-deity guide explains how this site’s belief system fits the region’s.
The etiquette, read before entering
- Shoes off inside the temple complex; you will walk where the rats walk; the provided foot coverings are the practical answer.
- Never step on, shoo, or harm a rat; walk slowly, watch the floor; an injured animal is a serious offence here.
- Do not eat or carry food; the rats are fed by the temple; your snacks are a disruption.
- Photograph respectfully; the courtyard and architecture freely; avoid flashes on animals and ask before photographing devotees (the etiquette rule).
- The squeamish question, honestly: it is a lot, the density of animals is real. If that’s you, view from the courtyard edges; that is a normal, accepted way to visit.
Verification: figures on this page are research approximations — check current details on the Rajasthan tourism OBMS portal (monument tickets), Rajasthan Tourism before you travel.