Deshnok Temple Bikaner

Karni Mata temple or the “temple of rats” is a very famous temple situated at Deshnoke which is 30 km away from Bikaner in Rajasthan, India.
The temple is famous all over India for having 20,000 black rats that lives in the temple and are revered. These rats are considered holy and are called as “kabbas”. Many people visit this temple from far off places just to pay their respect to these rats and get their desires as reality. The temple witnesses a huge number of visitors and curious tourists from all over India just owning to the presence of these “rats”.

Attractions of Deshnok temple
Deshnok temple is also known as Deshnok Karni Mata temple. The temple is dedicated to Karni Mata, which is an incarnation of the Goddess Durga who took birth in the 14th century. The goddess is believed to have miraculous power. The village in which the temple is located is also known as Deshnok, which means ten corners. The village is located 30 kilometers from Bikaner along the Jodhopur Road. The temple possesses a high a spiritual significance. There are a number of beliefs associated with the temple. On visiting the temple, you will come across a large number of brown rats in the temple complex. It is believed that these rats carry the soul of dead charans. Such beliefs attract a large number of devotees from different corners of the world. They come to the temple and offer sweets, grains, milk to the goddess during the aarti. Moreover, you can consider yourself really lucky if you get to see a white mouse as it is considered auspicious. The rats are such an integral part of the temple that wire grills had been constructed to protect then from birds of prey. A visit to the temple will surely be a unique experience as it will provide a close look of the various traditions and customs of the region.

The architecture of the temple is also a major attraction for the tourists. The various architectural features of the Deshnok temple like beautiful marble façade are a treat to the eye. Built by Ganga Singh, the temple also has domes and door made up of gold and silver. The doors impart a great look to the temple as they have images of the Karni mata and other deities. On getting inside the temple, you will also be able to see the image of the Goddess. It is enshrined in the inner spectrum.