Pilgrimage Tours
Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · cropped
The Karni Mata Temple at Deshnoke, about 30 km south of Bikaner, honours Karni Mata, a 14th-15th century Charan mystic revered as an incarnation of Shakti and long held as the tutelary deity of the ruling houses of Bikaner and Jodhpur. A shrine stood here from around the time of her passing in the early 16th century; the building pilgrims see today, with its marble facade and heavy solid-silver doors, was completed in Rajput style under Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner in the early 20th century. Its most distinctive feature is the several thousand rats, called kabas, that live in the temple and are fed and protected there; tradition holds that Karni Mata declared her Charan descendants would be reborn in this form, and sighting one of the rare white kabas is considered especially auspicious. It is not counted among the Shakti Peethas, but for Charans and for families across western Rajasthan it is the principal kuldevi shrine and draws pilgrims from across India.
October to March is the comfortable window, when the Thar desert around Bikaner is mild by day and cool at night; April to June is very hot and hard on elders. The Karni Mata Fair is held twice a year during the Navratris, in March-April (Chaitra) and September-October (Ashwin), and these are the temple's biggest and most crowded days by a wide margin. If you are travelling with elderly parents or small children and want a calmer darshan, avoid the fair days and pick an ordinary weekday in the cool months.
Deshnoke has its own small railway station roughly half a kilometre from the temple, but train services there are limited; most pilgrims arrive via Bikaner Junction, about 30 km north, which has direct trains from Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Howrah. By road the temple sits right on National Highway 11, an easy 45-minute drive from Bikaner by taxi or bus. For flights, Jodhpur airport is the dependable option at roughly 250 km (5-6 hours by road via Bikaner); Bikaner's own Nal airfield is much closer but has had only intermittent scheduled service, so check current flights before booking.
Footwear must be removed before entering, and the temple courtyard is where the rats live, so you will be walking barefoot among them on stone that is fed and washed all day. Socks are permitted and foot coverings are usually available near the entrance; many families carry a spare pair of socks and wet wipes. Walk slowly and watch your step, as harming a rat is taken very seriously here. The stone floor gets hot in the afternoon in summer. For darshan timings and aarti, confirm with the temple before you travel.
Planned around you, not a fixed departure. Holiday Vibez arranges pilgrimages to Karni Mata Temple in Deshnoke for families, elders and temple groups travelling from Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi and Madurai. Tell us your dates and how many are coming — we build the route around that. 100% customisable.
- Stays near the shrine — so elders aren't driven back and forth at 4am.
- Private transfers — pick-up from your door, not a meeting point.
- Meals that suit the group — including pure-veg and fasting requirements.
- Group travel — 4 people or 40, one coordinator, one itinerary.
- Someone on the phone — when you're in a queue three states from home.
Temple boards run their own darshan queues and quotas. No travel agent can sell you a special one, and agencies that promise "VIP darshan" are either misleading you or breaking the trust's rules. We help you book the official slots and we get everything else right.
Most of the people we send on yatra are over 55, or booking for parents who are. We plan shorter driving days, stays within walking distance where the shrine allows it, and we'll tell you honestly if a site involves a long climb or a trek before you pay — not after.
Is the rat temple safe to visit with children and elderly parents?
Most families visit without difficulty. The rats stay close to the floor and to their feeding bowls and generally avoid people. The main practical issues are walking barefoot on a floor shared with animals and the summer heat on the stone, so socks, slow steps and a cool-season morning visit make it easy for elders. Anyone with an open wound on the feet is better off skipping the inner courtyard.
Can non-Hindus and foreign visitors enter?
Yes. The temple does not restrict entry by faith or nationality. Dress modestly, remove footwear, and follow the same conduct expected of everyone inside.
Is photography allowed inside?
Photography is generally permitted, and a fee may apply for cameras or video equipment. Rules can change and are set by the temple management, so ask at the entrance and never chase or disturb the rats for a picture.
How much time should we keep for Deshnoke?
An hour or so at the temple is enough for an unhurried darshan on an ordinary day, which makes it a comfortable half-day trip from Bikaner combined with Junagarh Fort or the Bhandasar Jain temple. During the Navratri fair, allow considerably longer for the queue.
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