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Karni Mata Temple

In India’s state of Rajasthan, in the town of Deshnoke, the Karni Mata Temple receives thousands of visitors who wish to pay homage to a deceased 14th century mystic they believe is the incarnation of the goddess Durga. The temple is also home to an estimated 20,000 rats that locals believe are sacred and should not be harmed. The shrine attracts many tourists throughout the year who are curious about the rats that drink from bowls of milk and nibble on sugar when not crawling through specially made tunnels. This is definitely not a place for New Yorkers.