Karni Mata Temple (A Unique Rat Temple) Near Bikaner
- 3–4 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Visit a unique temple dedicated to rats that is situated just outside the city of Bikaner in the West Indian state of Rajasthan. The rats, over 25 000 of them, are worshipped here and regarded as the children of the Goddess Karni Mata. The solid silver doors of this temple are another major attraction. The doors have panels depicting scenes from the legends of the Goddess. Highlights • Around 25,000 rats that are fed, protected and worshipped in the temple • Rats can be seen here eating from huge metal bowls of milk, sweets and grains • Solid silver gates of the temple
Inclusions
What's included
- 02 bottles of mineral water per person
- Local English speaking guide
- Transport by private air-conditioned vehicle
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
What's not
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
Itinerary
You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to Karni Mata Temple that is about 20 miles from Bikaner. Upon arrival visit the temple along with your local guide. The temple is dedicated to Karni Mata - an incarnation of Goddess Durga. Legend has it that the son of Karni Mata drowned in a pond of water while attempting to drink from it. Karni Mata prayed to the God of Death, Yama, to revive her son. At first Yama refused but relented later and granted a boon to Karni Mata that all her sons would be reincarnated as rats. Eating food that has been nibbled by these rats is considered to be a great honor. The Temple has huge silver gates and marble carvings that were donated by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner. Spend some time at the temple and if you are lucky you may even spot a white rat, considered to be a special blessing. At the end of the visit, you will be driven back to Bikaner and dropped off at your hotel.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
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- 10
Ratings come from 1 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Pickup is offered, or you can meet at the starting point.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- SITA World Tours
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
How it compares in Bikaner
- Its from-price is 29% above the median of the 33 experiences we list in Bikaner.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 9 of 33.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Bikaner
Bikaner, in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, is a walled city of red sandstone with a great fort, carved havelis and a famous camel research farm.
Bikaner stands in the dry north-west of Rajasthan, on the edge of the Thar Desert, and was founded in 1488 by Rao Bika, a Rajput prince. Junagarh Fort, built at the end of the 16th century, has courtyards, halls and painted rooms that hold weapons, carpets and royal furniture. The red sandstone Lalgarh Palace, built in the early 20th century, is part museum and part hotel.
Top-ranked sights in Bikaner: Junagarh Fort, Lalgarh Palace, ICAR–National Research Centre on Camel.
