Karni Mata, the Rat Temple, at Deshnoke, Rajasthan, India. Rats are inside the temple and crawling outside too. In fact, rats are everywhere at Karni Mata! Here, at the Rat Temple, rats are sacred and people consider themselves lucky to get close to hordes of rats. Photo #1 by Enric Bach

The honest photographer noted, “This is as close as we were willing to go as there were loads more ‘lucky’ rats inside!” Photo #2 by Avid Hills

This is no Disney World with the famous Mickey Mouse. And Danila (Danila85 from Live Journal) was brave enough to venture into Karni Mata in India. Photo #3 by Danila

Karni Mata was a female mystic and supposedly an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Durga. This Rat Temple was named after her. Danila explained that people are required to take off their shoes before entering the Hindu temple Karni Mata as well as any articles of leather. Photo #4 by Danila

Danila was extraordinarily brave, getting close enough to the feeding rats inside the temple to snap many great shots. Photo #5 by Danila

There are rats climbing and sleeping on the gates. Photo #6 by Danila

Rats running through dung piles at Rat Temple – Karni Mata. Photo #7 by Danila

There are rats sleeping on the wall. Danila said there are rats everywhere! Photo #8 by Danila

In fact, Danila called it a “rat infestation” at Rat Temple. I don’t care how lucky these rats are supposed to be, I’d be freaking out inside Karni Mata! Photo #9 by Danila

Bowl of Rats at Karni Mata in India. Photo #10 by Owen (owenstache)

These lucky rats live a very pampered life. If you are wondering why, legend has it that the female Karni Mata implored Yama, the god of Death, for a special gift. Yama at first refused, but the the god of death relented, permitting Laxman and all of Karni Mata’s male children to be reincarnated as rats. Photo #11 by Danila

Holy rats at Rat Temple. Photo #12 by Barabeke

Karni Mata Temple, Deshnoke, Rajasthan, India. In 1538 AD, the female mystic Karni was supposedly traveling with some of her followers. She asked her caravan to stop for water. It was then that 151-year-old Karni disappeared. Photo #13 by Shakti

Hundreds of thousands of barefoot people come inside Karni Mata temple, in the Bikaner district of India. Photo #14 by Vberger

Rats, rats, and more hungry yet pampered rats at Karni Mata temple. Photo #15 by Shakti

I’m not knocking anyone’s religion – to each his/her own, but I don’t understand this love of rats. To me, it’s EEK! Rats! Photo #16 by Danila

Gates crawling with rats at Rat Temple Karni Mata. Photo #17 by Ian Armstrong

Karni Mata Temple, India. Here rats are considered protected and sacred. If a rat is killed, it must be replaced by one made out of solid gold. Photo #18 by Shakti

The photographer commented, “Rats plus Pigeon equals sanitary.” Photo #19 by Jeremy Vandel

There is little wonder to see such a fine ornament on Rat Temple – warning rats are inside and cherished. Photo #20 by Danila

More rats at Rat Temple Karni Mata. Depending how you feel about rats, this might totally freak you out with such huge rat numbers. Photo #21 by Danila

Rats sleeping and eat, not such a rough life for rats at Karni Mata. Photo #22 by Danila

They sleep in small groups in the Rat Temple. Photo #23 by Danila

Rats in milk at Karni Mata. Photo #24 by Phil Robinson

Inside Karni Mata. Photo #25 by Parag Sankhe

Big surprise, more rats inside Karni Mata. Photo #26 by 4ocima / enhanced by Zappernapper

And . . . yes, even more rats feeding inside Karni Mata Mandir in Deshnoke, Rajasthan, India. Photo #27 by Madelon van de Water Noledam

Starting to see a reoccurring theme here? Rats are coming out of everywhere! Photo #28 by Danila

Rat drinking milk. Photo #29 by Danila

Pampered rats at Rat Temple. Photo #30 by Danila

I’m afraid I’d go running out of the temple, screaming! Photo #31 by Danila

Rat Temple – rats rats rats. You know, many of the posts that I do about beautiful or bizarre places, I wish I could go there. But these photos are all the closer I want to get to so many rats at one time, whether they are lucky or not! Photo #32 by Danila