Karni Mata Mandir, Deshnok — The Rat Temple Near Bikaner, and How It Connects to Salasar Balaji

Quick Answer: Karni Mata Mandir is in Deshnok, about 30 km from Bikaner, Rajasthan — a 600-year-old temple dedicated to Karni Mata, an incarnation of Goddess Durga, famous for housing an estimated 20,000-25,000 rats that move freely throughout the complex and are considered sacred. Entry is free. From Salasar Balaji, the road distance to Karni Mata Mandir is approximately 169 km (about 3.5 hours) via NH52 towards Bikaner. The best food stop on this route remains Mangalam Hotel & Restaurant at NH52 Laxmangarh — 34 km from Salasar Balaji.

Karni Mata Mandir — widely known as the "Rat Temple" — is one of Rajasthan's most distinctive pilgrimage sites and a recurring search alongside Salasar Balaji, suggesting travellers planning an extended Rajasthan circuit toward Bikaner. This guide covers the temple itself, the connection to Salasar Balaji, and practical planning for combining the two.

What Is Karni Mata Mandir? — History & Significance

Karni Mata Mandir is located in Deshnok, a town in Bikaner district, approximately 30 km from Bikaner city. The temple is dedicated to Karni Mata, a 14th-century mystic widely revered as an incarnation of Goddess Durga across the Bikaner and Jodhpur regions.

•       Age: Approximately 600 years old

•       Deity: Karni Mata — believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Durga, a 14th-century Charan sage highly revered by the royal families of Bikaner and Jodhpur

•       The rats (kabas): An estimated 20,000-25,000 rats live within the temple complex, considered sacred. According to local belief, these rats are reincarnations of Karni Mata's male descendants

•       White rat sighting: Spotting a white rat among the thousands of dark-coloured ones is considered especially auspicious

•       Architecture: The temple features silver gates donated by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner, with an overhead mesh designed to keep birds of prey away from the rats

•       Entry fee: Free — no charge for darshan. A small fee applies for photography (still and video) inside

Visiting Etiquette — What to Know Before You Go

•       Footwear: Shoes must be removed before entering — free shoe-keeping stalls are available outside

•       Walking carefully: Visitors are advised to shuffle their feet rather than lift them while walking, to avoid accidentally stepping on a rat

•       If a rat is harmed: Local tradition holds that if a rat is killed, even accidentally, the person responsible should donate a rat made of solid gold or silver as penance

•       Prasad: Food nibbled by the temple's rats is considered holy and is sometimes consumed as prasad by devotees — a practice that can be unfamiliar or surprising for first-time visitors

•       Time needed: Most visits take 30-45 minutes, including time at the small museum near the entrance (₹2 entry, photography restricted)

How to Reach Karni Mata Mandir, Deshnok

•       By road from Bikaner: Karni Mata Mandir is located on a state highway near Bikaner — buses run regularly between Bikaner and Deshnok, with the journey costing approximately ₹26 by bus

•       By rail: Deshnok has its own railway station on the Bikaner-Jodhpur line, located very close to the temple itself — a practical option for travellers already on this rail route

Salasar Balaji to Karni Mata Mandir — Combining the Two

Salasar Balaji to Karni Mata Mandir, Deshnok: ~169 km · ~3.5 hours via NH52 towards Bikaner

सालासर बालाजी से करनी माता मंदिर (देशनोक) की दूरी लगभग 169 किमी है, जो सुजानगढ़-डेगाना मार्ग से बीकानेर की दिशा में लगभग 3.5 घंटे की यात्रा है।

•       Route: Salasar → NH52 (Bikaner direction) → Sujangarh → continue toward Churu → Bikaner → Deshnok (final ~30 km on a state highway)

•       Best approach: Given the 169 km / 3.5 hour distance, this is best treated as a separate day's travel rather than a same-day add-on to a Salasar Balaji darshan

•       Multi-day circuit option: Day 1: Jaipur → Salasar Balaji (darshan, overnight near Laxmangarh) → Day 2: Salasar → Bikaner → Karni Mata Mandir Deshnok → Bikaner sightseeing (Junagarh Fort, Lallgarh Palace) → overnight in Bikaner

•       Returning via NH52: The return journey from Bikaner to Jaipur retraces NH52, passing back through Laxmangarh — a natural second stop at Mangalam Hotel

Other Attractions Near Karni Mata Mandir — Bikaner Sightseeing

If extending a trip to include Karni Mata Mandir, Bikaner itself has several major attractions worth combining:

•       Junagarh Fort: A well-preserved 16th-century fort in Bikaner city, approximately 30 km from Deshnok

•       Lallgarh Palace: A red sandstone palace, now partly a heritage hotel, in Bikaner city

•       Bikaner Camel Research Centre: A research facility and tourist attraction focused on camel breeding, relevant to the region's desert heritage

•       National Research Centre on Camel: Educational visits showcasing Rajasthan's camel breeds

Where to Eat En Route — NH52 Toward Bikaner

Whether travelling from Salasar Balaji toward Bikaner/Deshnok, or returning, NH52 remains the primary corridor — and Mangalam Hotel & Restaurant at Laxmangarh is the recommended quality stop on this stretch, particularly for the Jaipur-facing portion of any multi-day circuit.

•       📍 Location: NH52, Laxmangarh Bypass, Sikar — on the route between Jaipur and the Salasar/Bikaner corridor

•       ⭐ Rating: 4.9★ Google · 500+ reviews · 100% pure vegetarian, FSSAI Lic. 12214039000015

•       🅿️ Group travel: Free parking for buses and cars — relevant for multi-day pilgrimage tour groups

•       🏨 Overnight base: 10 rooms from ₹1,000/night — useful if breaking a multi-day Salasar-Bikaner circuit into segments

What Guests Say — Real Google Reviews

⭐ 5/5  Khan Khan  ·  7 weeks ago  ·  Holiday · Family  ·  Google Maps ✅

"The food was absolutely delicious and well presented, loved the taste. It is the best restaurant on NH52 and Laxmangarh Sikar. I would strongly recommend everyone to surely stop at this place if you are travelling on NH52. It is highly recommended by me with my experience!"

Rooms 4/5 · Service 5/5 · Location 5/5 · Highlights: Child-friendly · Luxury · Great value · Quiet · High-tech

⭐ 5/5  Isha Trivedi  ·  9 weeks ago  ·  Business · Friends  ·  Google Maps ✅

"Mangalam is a must visit place if you're around Sikar. The food was scrumptious. And not to forget, the service is absolutely great. The warmth of it enhances the flavour. Muneeb hosted us well. I would definitely love to visit again!"

⭐ 5/5  Suraj Deora  ·  6 weeks ago  ·  Google Maps ✅

"Best service and food is so good, food served by Muneeb."

Rooms 5/5 · Service 5/5 · Location 5/5

⭐ 5/5  Nistha Vaidya  ·  6 weeks ago  ·  Google Maps ✅

"Good and quick service, staff was very friendly and cooperative. Ps: Muneeb was very cooperative and well behaved."

📍 See all 500+ reviews on Google Maps →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the distance from Salasar Balaji to Karni Mata Mandir, Deshnok?

A: The road distance from Salasar Balaji to Karni Mata Mandir in Deshnok is approximately 169 km, taking about 3.5 hours via NH52 towards Bikaner, passing through Sujangarh. Karni Mata Mandir itself is located about 30 km from Bikaner city.

Q: What is special about Karni Mata Mandir?

A: Karni Mata Mandir, also known as the Rat Temple, is famous for housing an estimated 20,000-25,000 rats that move freely throughout the temple and are considered sacred by devotees. The temple is dedicated to Karni Mata, a 14th-century sage revered as an incarnation of Goddess Durga. Entry is free, and the temple is approximately 600 years old.

Q: How do I combine a Salasar Balaji and Karni Mata Mandir trip?

A: Given the ~169 km distance, the best approach is a multi-day circuit: visit Salasar Balaji first (with an overnight stop near Laxmangarh at Mangalam Hotel), then continue via NH52 toward Bikaner the next day to visit Karni Mata Mandir in Deshnok, combined with Bikaner sightseeing such as Junagarh Fort.

Q: Is there an entry fee for Karni Mata Mandir?

A: No — darshan at Karni Mata Mandir is free. A small fee applies only for photography (still and video) inside the temple complex, and the adjacent museum charges a nominal ₹2 entry fee.

Plan Your Stop — Mangalam Hotel & Restaurant, NH52 Laxmangarh

📍 Address: NH52, Laxmangarh Bypass, Sikar, Rajasthan — 332311 (opposite Mody University main gate)

📏 From Salasar Balaji: 34 km · 35 minutes on NH52

📏 From Jaipur: 140 km · 2-2.5 hours on NH52

📏 Toward Bikaner: ~190 km · 3 hours on NH52

📞 Phone / WhatsApp: +91 63769 56424

🕐 Hours: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM · Daily · 365 days · Open on all festival days

✅ FSSAI: 12214039000015 · 100% Pure Veg & Eggless since 2012

📋 Reserve a Table   ·   🗺️ Google Maps   ·   🍽️ Full Menu   ·   🏨 Book a Room   ·   🛒 Order Online