Truth is stranger than fiction. And this one definitely borders on the supernatural. It is the true and baffling story of a motorcycle that physically resisted being separated from its deceased owner after a fatal accident in 1988. With the passage of time, the motorcycle has transformed into a shrine where people come and pray for a safe journey and safety on the highway
Yes indeed, the motorcycle-turned shrine stands like a sentinel and guardian on a highway between Pali and Jodhpur in Rajasthan and is known as the Om Banna Temple or the Bullet Baba Mandir, which is an obvious reference to what was once a Royal Enfield 350 Bullet motorcycle. Thousands of travellers pause here daily in an act of faith, reverence and devotion.
But the legend goes back 38 years to the early part of 1988, and Om Singh Rathore, a peppy youth of Chotila village, fondly known as Om Banna. In Rajasthan, ‘Banna’ is a nickname affectionately given to young men.
The son of Jog Singh Rathore, the local Thakur, the young man had a passion for riding his motorbike at high speed.
In May 1988, while riding from Bangdi near Sanderao to his home in Chotila, Om Banna lost control of his Royal Enfield Bullet 350, crashed into a tree on what is now National Highway 62. and died on the spot
But the real mystery, or something that can only be termed as ‘supernatural’ happened a couple of hours later. After the tragic accident, the motorcycle acquired a life of its own.
A motorcycle that kept ‘vanishing’
As part of standard procedure, the local police recovered the motorcycle from a nearby ditch and took it to the police station. But by next morning, it had vanished, only to be discovered at the exact site of the accident.
Dismissing it as a prank, the police impounded it again. To ensure nothing happens again, they took the extra precaution of siphoning out the petrol from the fuel tank, land chained it down.
By dawn the next day, the motorcycle vanished again and reappeared once more at the accident site.
Over the following days, despite several attempts to keep the vehicle locked, chained at different police stations, the motorcycle would always be found the next morning at the same spot on highway.
Eventually, with a growing sense of unease, the police gave up and let it remain at the accident spot. As time went by, the story of the ‘mysterious motorcycle’ spread throughout nearby villages
From Accident Site to Sacred Shrine
Soon the belief took root among the villagers the spirit of the deceased Om Banna was guiding his beloved motorcycle home. In time, a small shrine was built at the accident spot, and the Bullet motorcycle placed there permanently. Over time, the shrine has come to be known as the Om Banna Dham or Bullet Baba Temple.
Now this motorcycle itself is worshipped as the deity. The original 350 cc Royal Enfield Bullet bearing registration number RNJ 7773 stands at the centre, adorned with marigold garlands, red threads and tilak marks. And priests chant mantras and perform daily rituals.
A blend of faith and folklore
Truck drivers, bus conductors, bikers, taxi drivers and long-distance travellers are the main devotees at the shrine. It is believed that not stopping can cause trouble on the road ahead and that praying here ensures a safe journey.
Over the years, Om Banna has become a folk deity, a guardian spirit of the highway. Local singers perform folk songs in his name. Many claim road accidents near Chotila have reduced since the shrine came up..
Other interesting details include the fact that the Bullet motorcycle is never separated from Om Banna’s statue. And the two are worshipped together, inseparable even in death.
Where Exactly is the Bullet Baba Temple
The shrine stands near Chotila village in Pali district, Rajasthan, along the Pali-Jodhpur stretch of National Highway 62. It is approximately 20 kilometres from Pali and about 53 kilometres from Jodhpur.
The temple is easiest to access by road, well connected by buses, taxis and private vehicles from both Pali and Jodhpur. By rail, Jodhpur railway station is the nearest major station. From there, it is a roughly 50 kilometre journey by taxi or bus. By air, Jodhpur Civil Airport is about an hour’s drive from the shrine.
There is no entry fee to visit the temple. It generally opens around six in the morning and closes by nine at night. The most comfortable months to visit are from October to March.
