Deshnoke

Deshnoke is a town in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan, India. It lies about 30 kilometers northwest of Bikaner and serves as the administrative center of Deshnoke tehsil. The town is best known for the Karni Mata Temple, commonly called the Rat Temple, which draws pilgrims and visitors from across the region.

The Karni Mata Temple is dedicated to Karni Mata, a revered 14th–15th-century Hindu figure believed to be an incarnation of the goddess Durga. The temple complex dates to the late medieval period and has grown through the centuries into a major pilgrimage site. It is famous for its population of sacred rats, known as kabbas, which inhabit the temple and are fed by priests and devotees. The rats are regarded as manifestations of the divine, and harming or killing one is traditionally believed to bring misfortune. The presence of white rats is considered particularly auspicious.

Visitors to the temple are expected to remove their shoes and show respect to the animals; photography is allowed in designated areas. Feeding the rats with offerings such as grains and milk is common, under supervision. Deshnoke benefits economically from the temple’s religious significance and the associated tourism, which sustains local businesses and services.