Nankana Sahib facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nankana Sahib ننکاݨا صاحب ننكانہ صاحِب
City
Nankana Sahib - Birthplace of Guru Nanak
Nankana Sahib Location in Punjab, Pakistan Show map of Punjab, Pakistan Nankana Sahib Location in Pakistan Show map of Pakistan
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
Division	Lahore
District	Nankana Sahib
Elevation	187 m (614 ft)
Population  (2017)
• City	110,135
District Council	3 seats

Nankana Sahib is a city in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is also the capital of the Nankana Sahib District. The city is named after Guru Nanak, the first Guru of the Sikhs. He was born here and started teaching his beliefs in this city.

Nankana Sahib is a very important religious place for the Sikh religion. It is located about 91 kilometers (57 miles) west of Lahore. It is also about 75 kilometers (47 miles) east of Faisalabad. In 2017, the city had a population of 110,135 people. Before 2005, Nankana Sahib was part of the Sheikhupura District.

History of Nankana Sahib

This area was first founded by a Hindu ruler named Raja Vairat. It was called Raipur back then. Later, it was destroyed during invasions. A new town was built on the same spot during the Delhi Sultanate period. It was founded by Rai Bhoe Bhatti, whose family had converted to Islam. This new town was known as Rai-Bhoi-Di-Talwandi.

Rai Bhoe's great-grandson, Rai Bular Bhatti, later renamed the town 'Nankana Sahib'. He did this after Guru Nanak was born there. The Gurdwara Nankana Sahib is a special Sikh temple. Sikhs first built it around 1600 CE during the Mughal times. It was later improved in 1819–20 CE by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

A sad event happened here on February 20, 1921. During the Akali movement, the leader of the Gurdwara, Narain Das, ordered his men to fire on protesters. This event is known as the Nankana massacre. Many people were upset by this. A movement started to give control of the Gurdwara back to the Sikhs. In the 1930s and 1940s, Sikhs added more buildings and designs to the Gurdwara.

Geography and Development

Nankana Sahib and the areas around it used to be a smaller part of Sheikhupura District. In May 2005, the government made Nankana Sahib a separate district. This was done to help the area grow and develop.

Today, Nankana Sahib District has three main parts called tehsils. These are Nankana Sahib, Shah Kot, and Sangla Hill. Before December 2008, Safdarabad Tehsil was also part of this district.

There are plans to build a large university in Nankana Sahib. It will cover about 100 acres of land. The district government also plans to build new hospitals and health centers. These projects are being done with the help of local communities.

In 2007, the Pakistani government announced plans for a university. This university would focus on Sikh religion and culture. It is called the Baba Guru Nanak University. Officials said it would have great architecture and be a top research center.

Famous Places to Visit

Gurdwara Nankana Sahib

Nankana Sahib is home to many important and historical sites.

• Quba Masjid (a copy of the Quba Masjid in Madina)
• Gurdwara Janam Asthan (the birthplace of Guru Nanak)
• Nankana Lake Resort
• Residency of Baba Guru Nanak
• Gurdwara Patti Sahib
• Gurdwara Bal Leela
• Gurdwara Mal Ji Sahib
• Gurdwara Kiara Sahib
• Gurdwara Tambu Sahib

And other historical Gurdwaras important to Sikhism.

Notable People from Nankana Sahib

Many important people have connections to Nankana Sahib.

• Guru Nanak – the founder and first of the Sikh Gurus
• Rai Bular Bhatti
• Mohammad Irfan – a Pakistani cricketer
• Rai Mansab Ali Khan
• Rai Rashid Ahmed Khan
• Shizra Mansab Ali Khan
• Ganga Ram
• Ijaz Shah
• Babra Sharif – a film actor
• Barjees Tahir

Population and Religions

Faith in Nankana Sahib (2017)      Islam (97.18%)     Sikhism (1.42%)     Christianity (1.23%)     Hinduism (0.10%)     Ahmadiyya (0.07%)

The division of India and Pakistan in 1947 changed the population of many cities. Most Hindus and Sikhs moved from Pakistan to India. Similarly, most Muslims moved from India to Pakistan.

The 2017 Pakistani census showed that Nankana Sahib is mostly Muslim, with about 97.2% of the population following Islam. However, there is now a Sikh community living in the city again. This is the holy city where their founder, Guru Nanak, was born.

Even though Sikhs were not listed separately in the 2017 census, it is believed that most of the "Any other religion" group (over 1,500 people) are Sikhs. They make up about 1.4% of Nankana Sahib's population. There is also a notable Christian community, making up 1.2% of the population. Hindus and Ahmadis each represent about 0.1% of the population.

Education in Nankana Sahib

Nankana Sahib has many educational institutions for students.

Universities and Higher Education

• Virtual University of Pakistan Nankana Sahib Campus
• Baba Guru Nanak University

Colleges

• Al-Muarif School & College Nankana Sahib
• Government College of Commerce Nankana Sahib
• Government G.N Degree College, Nankana Sahib
• Government Govt. G.N. Degree College For Women, Nankana Sahib
• Govt College of Commerce Nankana Sahib
• Hira Public Higher Secondary Education System Nanakana Sahib
• Pak Garrison Higher Secondary Education System Nanakana Sahib
• Punjab Group of Colleges Nankana Sahib
• Radiant College Nankana Sahib
• Superior college, Nankana Sahib
• The City Grammar school & College Nankana Sahib
• The Message Campus Nankana Sahib

Schools

• Dar-e-Arqam Schools
• Allied Schools (Pakistan)
• Hira Public School
• Pak Garrison School

See also

In Spanish: Nankana Sahib para niños