Om Banna Temple

Day 15 of the "virtual (digital) tour" of places known for unusual customs, practices, mysterious phenomena. This post is part of the A to Z Challenge and Blogchatter A2Z 2026

The Om Banna Temple, also known as the Bullet Baba Temple, is located near Chotila village in the Pali district along National Highway 62 between Jodhpur and Ahmedabad, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. 

This shrine is unusual in that its central deity is a 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet, and it has become a legendary stop for those seeking a safe journey.

WHY MOTORCYCLE

Om Singh Rathore, the son of a local village leader, was affectionately known as Om Banna. On 2 December 1988, while riding his motorcycle, he lost control and struck a tree, dying at the scene.

What followed makes the story of the temple truly mysterious.

Local authorities moved the motorcycle to the nearest police station, but the next morning the bike was gone. It was eventually discovered back at the site of the accident.

Surprised, the police took the bike back, emptied its fuel tank, and secured it with chains and locks. Despite these measures, the legend says, the motorcycle mysteriously returned to the ditch where it had first fallen before dawn the next day.

Image courtesy: NDTV

RITUALS

The primary object of worship, the Royal Enfield Bullet (RNJ 7773), is now housed in a protective glass box. While devotees bring traditional offerings such as flowers, incense, and sweets, it is also common for people to present bottles of alcohol to honour the spirit of Om Banna.

In a unique twist on traditional tilak ceremonies, worshippers apply the sacred mark of tilak to the bike’s headlight and tie red threads to the motorcycle. The tree that Om Banna struck during his fatal accident is also considered part of the shrine; it is heavily ornamented with offerings of bangles and scarves.

Locals and travellers believe that Om Banna’s spirit remains at the site to help distressed travellers. Some even claim to have seen a mysterious figure riding the motorcycle along the highway at night.

Whether viewed as a miracle or a fascinating piece of local folklore, the object of devotion is something unusual: a motorcycle that serves as a “guardian angel” for thousands of travellers every year. It's all about faith!

(Information sources: NDTV, ABC News)

Previous posts in the series

Asur	Bhangarh	Channapatna dog temple
Dhinga Gavar	Edakkal caves	Floating stones
Ghost lights	Hakki Pikki	Idu Mishmi
Jatinga	Kodinhi	Living root bridges
Malana	Nidhivan

Enter your email ID in the box below to get new posts in your inbox

Powered by

Nidhivan, the mystical forest

Day 14 of the "virtual (digital) tour" of places known for unusual customs, practices, mysterious phenomena. This post is part of the A to Z Challenge and Blogchatter A2Z 2026

In the holy town of Vrindavan in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district, is Nidhivan a forest dedicated to Radha and Krishna. There is an aura of mytery associated with this sacred grove.

The short Tulasi or Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) trees of Nidhivan grow in pairs, their trunks entwined as though locked in eternal embrace. Despite the dry land, these trees remain lush and green throughout the year. Curiously, their trunks are hollow, and they all bend towards the ground.

Nidhivan - Image courtesy: Vrindavan

RASLILA BELIEF

It is believed that Radha and Krishna perform the Raslila, the celestial dance, here every night. According to legend, the paired Tulasi trees transform into Gopis (milkmaids who are devotees of Lord Krishna) at dusk, joining the divine dance, only to return to their tree form at dawn.

Within Nidhivan are revered shrines, including the Rang Mahal, said to be the resting place of Radha and Krishna, and the Sri Bansichori Radharani Temple. 

SACRED RULE OF NIGHTFALL

No human or animal is permitted to remain inside Nidhivan after sunset. Even monkeys and peacocks that roam the forest during the day leave as evening falls. 

Local belief warns that anyone who dares to stay overnight risks blindness, madness, misfortune, or even death. Such is the sanctity of this rule that nearby residents have sealed their windows with bricks to avoid accidentally glimpsing the forest at night.

In 2021, a YouTuber who broke the rule and trespassed into Nidhivan at night to film was arrested and sent to judicial custody, on charges of violating local rules.

BEYOND EXPLANATION

Science hasn't been able to fully and conclusively prove the unusual phenomena there. But for the millions of devotees it's not about any reason or evidence. It's more about emotion, what is felt in their hearts.

(Information sources: The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, News18, Wikipedia)

Previous posts in the series

Asur	Bhangarh	Channapatna dog temple
Dhinga Gavar	Edakkal caves	Floating stones
Ghost lights	Hakki Pikki	Idu Mishmi
Jatinga	Kodinhi	Living root bridges
Malana

Enter your email ID in the box below to get new posts in your inbox

Powered by

Malana: Don't touch the villagers

Day 13 of the "virtual (digital) tour" of places known for unusual customs, practices, mysterious phenomena. This post is part of the A to Z Challenge and Blogchatter A2Z 2026

Malana is a village situated at an altitude of 2,652 metres in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh, in northern India.

While the place is geographically part of India, the villagers, numbering around 4,500 follow their own ancient system of governance and justice. 

The village is administered by a bicameral parliament, consisting of an upper house called the Jayeshthang and a lower house known as the Kanishthang.

However, the ultimate authority is not human; the village is ruled by its deity, Jamlu Devta. All major administrative decisions are believed to be direct decrees from Jamlu, communicated through a spiritual spokesperson known as the Gur.

Image courtesy: BBC / © Sauriêl Creative |
Samantha Leigh Scholl/Alamy

'NO TOUCHING' RULE

Perhaps the most unique custom is the village's strict taboo on physical contact. To preserve the "purity" of their community, residents prohibit outsiders from touching them, their belongings, or their sacred temples.

Touching a temple or a designated holy place can result in an immediate fine ranging from ₹2,500 to ₹3,500.

When buying items from a local shop, visitors are expected to leave their money on the counter or the ground rather than handing it directly to the shopkeeper.

Villagers have even been known to bathe immediately if they are accidentally touched by an outsider, in order to wash away the perceived misfortune.

MALANA CREAM

Beyond its customs, Malana is renowned for "Malana Cream", a strain of hashish. It is produced using a specific hand-rubbing technique that extracts resin from live cannabis plants. The possession of cannabis is illegal under Indian law. 

While all these unusual customs and practices have drawn significant number of tourists, the villagers themselves remain very protective of their culture.

(Information sources: BBC, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times)

Previous posts in the series

Asur	Bhangarh	Channapatna dog temple
Dhinga Gavar	Edakkal caves	Floating stones
Ghost lights	Hakki Pikki	Idu Mishmi
Jatinga	Kodinhi	Living root bridges

Enter your email ID in the box below to get new posts in your inbox

Powered by