Inside India's rat temple where 20,000 of them are worshipped, fed and protected as they scurry between the feet of tourists


An Indian temple is overrun with more than 20,000 rats - and the devotees couldn't be happier.

The Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan, India, is known for its devotion to the furry animals, often seen as the scourge of urban areas.

Rats scurry throughout the temple, where they are worshipped, fed and protected.

Devotees have even gone to extreme lengths to protect the species by building netting and grills to keep out predators such as raptors.

