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Bikaner district, Rajasthan

Karni Mata Temple, Deshnoke: the shrine where 25,000 rats are the deities' own

Thirty kilometres south of Bikaner, in the dusty town of Deshnoke, sits a marble-and-silver Shakti temple unlike any other in India. Here the sacred black rats, called kabas, are not pests to be shooed away but the reincarnated souls of Karni Mata's own devotees. Pilgrims walk barefoot among them, share prasad they have nibbled, and scan the shadows for the rare white kaba whose sighting is counted as a direct blessing from the goddess.

The marble and silver facade of the Karni Mata Temple at Deshnoke, Bikaner, RajasthanPhoto: Wikimedia Commons contributor (author to be verified on the file page)
Darshan timings
Approx 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM, daily
Entry
Free; no entry ticket
Nearest station
Deshnoke Railway Station, approx 1 km
Signature
Home to approx 25,000 sacred rats (kabas)
TimingsHow to reachAartiDress & rulesBest timeNearbyWhere to stayFAQ

Darshan timings at Karni Mata

Darshan timings by season
SeasonOpensDarshanClosesStatus
Winter (Oct-Mar)approx 4:00 AMContinuous through the dayapprox 10:00 PMOpen
Summer (Apr-Sep)approx 4:00 AMContinuous through the dayapprox 10:00 PMOpen
Verify before you travel. The temple keeps long hours and generally stays open right through midday, unlike many Rajasthan shrines that shut for a rest break. Aarti timings shift slightly with sunrise and sunset. Times are widely cited as 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM but are marked approx as the trust does not publish a fixed official schedule; confirm locally, especially during Navratri when hours extend for the crowds.

Read the full Timings & Darshan Hours →

How to reach Karni Mata Temple (Rat Temple), Deshnoke

Deshnoke sits on the Bikaner-Nagaur highway (NH-89 corridor), roughly 30 km south of Bikaner, so most pilgrims base themselves in Bikaner and make a short half-day trip. All distances below are approx.

Reaching by rail, road and air
ModePointDistanceNotes
AirBikaner (Nal) Airportapprox 35 kmNearest airport, with limited flights. Jodhpur Airport (approx 250 km) and Jaipur (approx 330 km) are better connected for most travellers.
TrainDeshnoke Railway Stationapprox 1 kmThe town has its own small station on the Bikaner line, though only limited trains halt. Bikaner Junction (approx 30 km) is the reliable major railhead.
RoadBikaner cityapprox 30 kmFrequent state buses, shared jeeps and taxis run down the Bikaner-Nagaur road; the drive takes roughly 40-50 minutes. Ample parking near the temple.

Read the full How to Reach →

Puja & aarti schedule

  • Mangla Aarti (morning) at/after the temple opens, with the first bhog offered to the goddessapprox 5:00 AM
  • Rajbhog / bhog offering; the kabas swarm the milk bowls and prasad, a sight pilgrims wait forMidday
  • Sandhya (evening) Aarti as lamps are lit across the courtyardapprox 7:00 PM
Exact aarti times are marked approx; they track dawn and dusk and shift by season, and the trust does not publish fixed minute-times. The daily rhythm centres on Mangla Aarti in the early morning and the evening aarti, with bhog offered through the day. Arrive around opening for the calmest darshan and the best chance to see the rats feed.

Read the full Aarti & Puja Schedule →

Dress code & temple rules

Remove footwear before entering; you will walk barefoot across the marble floor and directly among the rats, so socks are commonly worn for comfort and hygiene

Dress modestly and conservatively; cover shoulders and legs, as at any active Hindu shrine

Never step on, kick or harm a kaba (temple rat); by tradition, killing one must be atoned for by replacing it with a rat made of solid gold or silver

If a rat runs across your feet, treat it as good fortune rather than recoiling; it is considered a blessing

Spotting one of the rare white rats is regarded as especially auspicious, a glimpse of the goddess and her sons

Prasad and food nibbled by the kabas is considered sanctified (juthan) and is eaten by devotees as holy

Move slowly and keep noise down out of respect; the rats are unafraid and underfoot everywhere

Photography is generally allowed in the courtyard, but avoid flash near the animals and check current on-site rules

Read the full Dress Code & Temple Rules →

Best time to visit & festivals

Deshnoke bakes in the Thar summer, so the comfortable window is the cool season from October to March. The temple's two great fairs, both during Navratri, are the spiritual high points and draw pilgrims on foot from across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.

Major festivals
FestivalWhenSignificance
Chaitra Navratri Karni Mata Fair (Mela)March-April (Chaitra Shukla Ekam to Dashmi)The larger of the two annual fairs; thousands walk to Deshnoke and the temple stays alive with worship, music and processions across the nine days. Peak
Ashwin Navratri Karni Mata FairSeptember-October (Ashwin Shukla to Dashmi)The second Navratri mela, timed with the autumn Durga festival; equally sacred though slightly smaller than the spring fair. Peak
Winter pilgrimage seasonOctober to MarchBest general weather for darshan and for combining the trip with Bikaner's forts and havelis.

Read the full Best Time to Visit & Festivals →

Nearby temples & tirths

Salasar Balaji

Salasar Balaji

Beardless Hanuman shrine and one of Rajasthan's most-visited pilgrim towns

approx 165 km from Karni Mata →
Khatu Shyam Temple

Khatu Shyam Temple

The Kali-yuga Shyam Baba shrine that draws enormous Shekhawati crowds

approx 230 km from Karni Mata →
Brahma Temple, Pushkar

Brahma Temple, Pushkar

One of the very few temples to Lord Brahma, beside the holy Pushkar lake

approx 245 km from Karni Mata →

Read the full Nearby Temples & Tirths →

Where to stay

Deshnoke itself has only basic dharamshalas, trust lodging and a few simple guest houses and dhabas around the temple, enough for a night if you want the early Mangla Aarti. Most pilgrims and tourists stay in Bikaner (approx 30 km), which offers the full range from budget hotels near Bikaner Junction to heritage properties such as Lallgarh Palace and Laxmi Niwas. Basing in Bikaner and driving down for a morning darshan is the common pattern; during the Navratri fairs, book well ahead as both towns fill up.

Read the full Where to Stay →

Frequently asked questions

Karni Mata temple Deshnoke timings today
The temple is generally open daily from about 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with Mangla Aarti in the early morning and evening aarti around dusk. Times are approx as the trust publishes no fixed official schedule, so confirm locally, especially during Navratri when hours extend.
Why are there rats in Karni Mata temple
The roughly 25,000 rats, called kabas, are believed to be the reincarnated souls of Karni Mata's Charan devotees. Legend says the goddess struck a pact with Yama so her people would be reborn as rats before returning to human form, which is why they are protected and worshipped.
Nearest railway station to Karni Mata temple Deshnoke
Deshnoke has its own small railway station about 1 km from the temple, but only limited trains stop there. The dependable major railhead is Bikaner Junction, about 30 km away.
Is Karni Mata temple open during Navratri
Yes. Navratri is the busiest and most auspicious time, with the Karni Mata Fair held twice a year in Chaitra (March-April) and Ashwin (September-October). The temple stays open with extended activity and huge crowds.
Is there an entry fee for Karni Mata temple
No, entry is free. There is no darshan ticket; you simply remove your footwear and enter barefoot. Camera rules can vary on site, so check locally before photographing.

Compiled from public sources including Wikipedia: Karni Mata · Wikipedia: Karni Mata Temple (Deshnoke) · Wikipedia: Deshnoke · Tour My India: Karni Mata Temple. Timings and seasonal closures change; confirm with the temple trust before travelling.