India > Temples >Karni Mata temple

Karni Mata temple, Bikaner

Karni Mata temple is a 600 year old temple at Deshnoke, Rajasthan, India. Karni Mata is believed to be the incarnation of Hindu goddess Durga. The peculiarity of this temple is that thousands of rats are worshiped here. The temple in its present form was completed in the early 20th century in late Mughal style by Maharaja Ganga Singh. This temple is dedicated to Karni Mata. There is a legend that she prophesied the victory of Rao Bika. The rats are seen as holy, owing to the belief that the souls of the followers of Karni Mata are in these rats and thus they must be looked after. The huge silver gates to the temple, and the marble carvings were a donation of Maharaja Ganga Singh. Throughout the year pilgrims from anywhere come to pay religious tribute to Karni Mata. Outside Rajasthan she is respected and loved in areas like Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana. During Navratri thousands come to the temple on foot. Also known as the Temple of Rats.

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Location

Deshnok is only 30 km from Bikaner (by road). Bikaner is well connected through National Highway with Delhi, Agra, Jodhpur, Jaipur and other cities of India.

Rail service is also there, you can reach Bikaner by meter gauge or by broad gauge train.

Airport : The airport is in Jaipur, Agra, Jodhpur and Delhi.

Bikaner is about 450 km by road from Delhi, 350 km from Jaipur, 350 km from Jodhpur. The condition of the road is good.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

AIR : The nearest airport is Jodhpur 253 km.

RAIL : Bikaner is connected with Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bhatinda, Kalka and Howrah (Kolkata).

Some important train connections are :

Kalka Express (Bikaner- Jodhpur)

Bikaner Express (Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Bikaner)

Chetak Express (Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Bikaner)

Bikaner Mail (Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Bikaner).