Karni Mata Temple, Deshnoke

🛕 Lord Devi | 📍 Deshnoke, Bikaner, Rajasthan

Temple Tags: Famous Temple North India Temple Spiritual Healing Temple

✔ Verified by Mandirvaas

📍 Open in Maps

⏰ Darshan

Morning: 04:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Evening: 04:00 PM – 10:00 PM

📅 Best Time to Visit

October to March is generally comfortable for pilgrimage.

📸 Photography

Not Allowed

🔱 Temple Significance

Karni Mata Temple at Deshnoke is one of Rajasthan's most distinctive Hindu pilgrimage sites and is dedicated to Karni Mata, a revered spiritual figure worshipped by devotees as a manifestation of Goddess Durga. The temple is especially famous for the kabas, the sacred rats that move freely throughout its premises.

Devotees traditionally regard the kabas as sacred and treat them with care. The presence of these protected rats is an unusual and important part of the temple's religious tradition. A sighting of a rare white kaba is traditionally considered especially auspicious.

The temple is also an important centre for the worship of Karni Mata and attracts pilgrims throughout the year. Its stone and marble architecture, silver gates and religious traditions make it an important cultural landmark near Bikaner.

🏛 Temple History

Karni Mata is a revered figure in the religious traditions of Rajasthan and is traditionally associated with the Charan community and the ruling houses of the region. The temple at Deshnoke developed as an important centre of her worship.

According to the temple's religious tradition, Karni Mata is associated with numerous stories and legends concerning her spiritual power and protection of her devotees. Deshnoke subsequently became an important pilgrimage centre dedicated to her.

The present temple is constructed using stone and marble. Rajasthan Tourism highlights its marble carvings and silver gates, while noting that further enhancement was carried out in 1999, when Kundan Lal Verma contributed to the temple's marble and silver work.

The temple's most distinctive feature is its large population of sacred rats, locally called kabas. According to the traditional legend, the rats are associated with the reincarnation of Karni Mata's devotees. Because of this belief, the animals are protected and are allowed to move freely through the temple.

The shrine also hosts the Karni Mata Fair twice a year, during the Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri periods. These occasions attract large numbers of pilgrims and visitors to Deshnoke.

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Daily Poojas

Regular temple worship schedule

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No daily poojas available.

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Special Rituals

Sacred offerings and temple rituals

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No special rituals available currently.

🎉 Temple Festivals

No festivals available.

🧭 Pilgrim Travel Tips

Remove your footwear before entering the temple.
Visitors walk through the temple premises alongside the sacred kabas, so take care while walking.
Do not harm, chase or deliberately disturb the rats.
The kabas are considered sacred by devotees and should be treated respectfully.
Avoid carrying food items that could accidentally fall onto the floor.
If you are uncomfortable around animals, be aware that rats are an integral part of the temple environment.
Keep valuables and personal belongings secure while moving through crowded areas.
During Navratri, expect significantly higher visitor numbers.
The temple can be visited as a half-day excursion from Bikaner, which is about 30 km away.