Nankana Sahib

Nankana Sahib is a historic city and the administrative capital of Nankana Sahib District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Revered as the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, the city is one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations for Sikhs worldwide. Situated west of Lahore and east of Faisalabad, it has grown into a regional centre of culture, religious heritage, and local administration. According to the 2017 census, the city recorded a population of just over 110,000, increasing in subsequent years as the district expanded.

Historical Background

The earliest settlement at the site is attributed to a Hindu ruler, Raja Vairat, who founded a locality known as Raipur. This settlement was destroyed during early Muslim conquests. In the period of the Delhi Sultanate, a township was re-established by Rai Bhoe Bhatti, a Rajput of the Bhati lineage whose ancestors had converted to Islam under the influence of Sufi traditions. The settlement was then known as Rai-Bhoi-Di-Talwandi.
Rai Bular Bhatti, the great-grandson of Rai Bhoe, renamed the town Nankana Sahib following the birth of Guru Nanak in the late fifteenth century. The presence of the gurdwara marking his janam asthan (birthplace) established the city as a central landmark within the Sikh world. The original shrine, believed to have been built around 1600 CE during Mughal rule, was later renovated in the early nineteenth century under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who patronised Sikh religious architecture throughout the region.
During the Akali movement in 1921, conflict between reformist Sikhs and the Udasi mahant Narain Das resulted in the Nankana Sahib massacre, in which Sikh protesters were fired upon by the mahant’s men. The event catalysed widespread agitation, ultimately contributing to the transfer of gurdwara management into Sikh control. Additional buildings and architectural embellishments were added through the 1930s and 1940s, laying the groundwork for the present-day complex.

Administrative Development and District Status

Historically part of Sheikhupura District, Nankana Sahib and its surrounding areas were reorganised in 2005 to form the new Nankana Sahib District, a move intended to accelerate regional development. The district comprises the tehsils of Nankana Sahib, Shah Kot, and Sangla Hill, with Safdarabad included until its reassignment in 2008.
Government initiatives have aimed at educational and infrastructural growth. Notably, proposals were advanced in the early twenty-first century to establish a university specialising in Sikh studies and regional culture. This planned Baba Guru Nanak University was envisioned to host international-level programmes in theology, culture, and history. Healthcare expansion, including new facilities, has likewise been a priority for local authorities.

Geography and Urban Setting

Nankana Sahib lies within the fertile plains of central Punjab, characterised by extensive agricultural activity and a network of nearby towns and villages. The area’s administrative elevation has contributed to urban growth, road development, and improved connectivity. Punjabi is the predominant language across the region, reflecting its deeply rooted cultural landscape.

Religious and Cultural Landmarks

The city hosts several important Sikh gurdwaras in addition to the principal Janam Asthan site:

• Gurdwara Patti Sahib
• Gurdwara Bal Leela
• Gurdwara Mal Ji Sahib
• Gurdwara Kiara Sahib
• Gurdwara Tambu Sahib

Collectively, these shrines commemorate episodes from the life of Guru Nanak and serve as major destinations during pilgrimages and religious festivals. The district also includes contemporary attractions, including a lakeside resort and architectural replicas such as a model of Quba Mosque.

Demographic Profile

The demographic composition of Nankana Sahib was profoundly reshaped by the Partition of India in 1947, when nearly all Hindus and Sikhs resettled in India, and many Muslims from across northern India migrated to Pakistan. Recent census data, however, demonstrates the re-emergence of a small but significant Sikh community in the city. In 2023, Sikhs numbered nearly 1,900 residents—constituting the largest minority group and nearly 1.5 per cent of the population. A Christian community, numbering over 1,700 individuals, forms another notable minority.
Punjabi remains the dominant language, spoken by over 96 per cent of the population, while a small proportion reported Urdu as their mother tongue. Household size averaged around six persons, and the population growth rate from 2017 to 2023 was over 2.8 per cent annually.

Education and Institutions

The city hosts various colleges, schools, and training institutes, alongside the Nankana Sahib campus of higher education. Plans for expanded university-level institutions continue to align with the district’s broader development agenda, particularly in the fields of culture, religious studies, and regional history.