Incredible India: 10 Unusual Temples You Won't Believe Existed

5) Karni Mata Temple – Rat temple, Deshnok, Rajasthan

Karni Mata temple commonly known as Rat Temple is located in a small town of Deshnok, about 30 km south of Bikaner, Rajasthan. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Karni, an incarnation of Maa Durga.

She is said to have lived in Deshnok in the 14th century. As per one of the stories, when her youngest son drowned in a river, she asked Yama (the god of death) to bring him back to life. Lord Yama denied her request. Thus, being an incarnation of Goddess Durga brought her son back to life. She then proclaimed that none of her family members would die and they would in fact incarnate in the form of rats.

The temple dates back to 15th century and was built under Maharaja Ganga Singh’s rule of Bikaner. Temple houses around 20,000 rats that are fed, protected and worshipped. Rats can be seen here eating from huge metal bowls of milk, sweets and grains, the leftovers of which are offered to the visitors as a Prasad.

A glimpse of white rats, believed to be manifestations of Karni Mata herself and her four sons is considered auspicious and fruitful.

6) Sonia Gandhi Temple, Telangana

Congress leaders from the state constructed a temple for Sonia Gandhi in Mallial town to express their gratefulness to AICC president Sonia Gandhi for creating Telangana from Andhra Pradesh.

The temple contains a white marble statue of Sonia Gandhi and also had portraits of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on temple walls outside.