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.

Putting faith in his furry friends: A child watches a group of rats drinking milk in the rat temple in Rajasthan, India, which is home to around 20,000 of the creatures

Rodent ritual: Worshipers believe the rats are an incarnation of the Goddess Karni Mata whose statue is pictured (above) in the temple

VIP treatment: The rats are allowed to scurry through the temple, where they are worshipped, fed and protected

Surender Sharma, a visitor, said: This is my first visit to this temple. There is no history of plague in this area, despite the presence of rats for many years. People come here to worship rats as god.'

The rodents move freely within the temple and can be seen eating from a huge metal bowl of milk and grains, placed there daily by devotees.

Small children can be seen playing and interacting with the rats - while scores of tourists flock there each day to catch a glimpse of the unique spectacle.

Many visitors offer sweets and other candy to the vermin. The food nibbled by the rats is also considered holy and is sometimes consumed by a devotee - even if it has been half eaten by rodents.

Hands-on experience: A worshipper feeds one of the rats, which are known as kabbas. Many travel great distances to visit the temple

Not for the faint-hearted: A close-up of a rat eating a peanut. Eating food that has been nibbled on by the rats is considered to be a high honour

In every nook and cranny: Two rats (left) are seen climbing on a door at the rat temple in Rajasthan, India. Pictured (right) is the Goddess Karni Mata

Savita Sharma, another visitor, said: 'I keep visiting this temple. The first time I visited this place I was glad to see rats all around. But I did scream out loudly when a rat touched my foot.'

While black and brown rats are easily spotted in the temple courtyard, devotees believe sighting a white rat is a blessing.

DC Mishra said: 'I have come to see rats and white rat is considered lucky. If someone see's a white rat then he or she gets good luck and the blessings of god. I am glad that I have seen a white rat.'

Star attraction: Hundreds of people queue to offer their prayers at the temple in Rajasthan, India, where the rats are worshipped

Paying their respects: The temple draws visitors from across the country for blessings as well as curious tourists from around the world

Priests at the temple treat the furry inhabitants with serious devotion and warn visitors to walk carefully within the temple premises to avoid trampling them.

According to the temple rules, stepping accidentally on rat and killing it is a sin.

The perpetrator is then bound to buy a gold or silver rat statue and place it in the temple as a payment of sin.

Ritual: People seen preparing food in a huge cauldron. Charan priests perform Mangla-Ki-Aarti and offer special food to the rats as worship

Shrine: This Hindu temple was constructed by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the early 1900s as a tribute to the rat goddess Karni Mata