India Guide
Rajasthan
Karni Mata Temple
Address: Deshnok, 30km south of Bikaner
Website: www.karnimata.com
Price: Free; Rs20 camera, Rs50 video
Opening time: Daily 6am–10pm
The Karni Mata Temple ranks among India's more bizarre attractions. Step inside its Italian-marble arched doorway and everywhere you'll see free-roaming rats, known as kabas, which devotees believe are reincarnated souls saved from the wrath of Yama, the god of death. Pilgrims bring offerings for the rats to eat inside the main shrine, and it's considered auspicious to eat the leftovers after they've been nibbled, or glimpse the temple's venerated white rat. It's also considered fortunate for a rat to run over your feet. Whatever you do don't step on one, or you'll have to donate a gold model of a rat.