Nanakana Sahib is a historical town in district Sheikhupura (Pakistan). Earlier, it was known as Rai Bhoi Di Talwandi, after the name of its founder Rai Bhoi (the father of Rai Bular). Guru Nanak Sahib (1469 – 1539), the founder of the Sikh religion, was born here on October 20, 1469. Guru Nanak Sahib spent about 35 years of his life in this village. There are several Gurdwaras in the town: Gurdwara Janam Asthan (the birthplace of Guru Nanak), Gurdwara Bal Lila (Guru Sahib used to play here), Gurdwara Patti Sahib (It was the site of the school where Guru Sahib used to study), Gurdwara Kiara Sahib (It was the site of Guru Sahib’s fields), Gurdwara Tambu Sahib (It was a cluster of bushes and trees at the time of Guru Sahib) etc. Guru Arjan and Guru Hargobind also visited this town. A Gurdwara had been built to preserve memory of the visit of both the Guru Sahibs. The main shrine of the town is Gurdwara Janam Asthan. On February 20, 1921, Narain Das, an Udasi manager of the Gurdwara Janam Asthan, killed more then 130 Sikhs in the shrine and then burnt the dead and the wounded. [The ‘justice-loving’ British judge gave him life imprisonment (he was released after 10 years), whereas just one murder fetches death sentence]. Most of the town (about 500 acres) is the property of Gurdwara Janam Asthan. Since 1947, Pakistan government is managing the shrines and the maintenance is not good. Presently, more than 95% of the residents of the town are Muslim refugees from the east Punjab. The Sikhs have been trying to get it declared a Sikh Holy Land on the lines of the Christian Vatican city but have not succeeded so far. Several thousand Sikhs make pilgrimage to this town every year.