Having watched an episode of Globetrotters on Rajasthan, I have been anticipating this encounter with one of the more bizarre temples in the world. Karni Mata is a temple where rats are worshiped. Yes, rats! Watching the video (either ours that we downloaded or the aforementioned professionally produced one) probably better captures this experience.

Created in the 14th century, it is through silver doors that we passed into a world of over a thousand rats that are lovingly taken care of by provisions of food and milk. It took a bit of convincing (for Mike that is), but we both demonstrated our bravery by baring our feet and entered the temple skin exposed (most people choose to keep socks on for obvious reasons).

I felt blessed by the good fortune that I had 2 fighting rats scurry into my leg. But the real luck comes in spotting a rare, white rat, of which eluded us.

Other than spotting a whole range of rats; from healthy, to diseased, to dead, the more unique spotting was seeing a family sitting on the floor amongst the creatures eating lunch. Consuming food covered in rat saliva is considered good luck, and there fore food is offered to the animals and then eaten. We did not feel the need to test the theory. For the back ground as to how these beliefs evolved please click here.

December 1st - 2nd
Mumbai

December 10th - 11th
Udaipur / The White City

December 12th
A Side trip to Kumbalgarh fort and Ranakpur Jain Temple

December 13th
Jodhpur / The Blue City

December 14th - 15th
Jaisalmer / The Golden City

December 16th
Random Stop : Bikaner and the close by Karni Mata Temple

December 17th - 20th
Pushkar / Important Hindu Pilgrimage Center

December 20th - 22nd
Bundi

December 23rdth - 24th
Agra

December 25th - 28th
New Delhi

Nuances of India

Volunteering in Mizoram