Gurdwara Janam Asthan, also referred
to as Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, is a highly revered gurdwara that
was built at the site where the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, was
believed to be born. The shrine is located in the city of Nankana
Sahib, near the city of Lahore in the Punjab province
of Pakistan.
The shrine is located in the town of Nankana
Sahib, located approximately 65 kilometres from Lahore. Nankana Sahib had
previously been known as Rai Bhoi Ki Talvandi, but was eventually
renamed in honour of Guru Nanak.
Gurdwara Janam Asthan is believed to be located at
the site where Guru Nanak was born to Mehta
Kalu and Mata Tripta.
The gurdwara forms part of an ensemble of nine
important gurdwaras in Nankana Sahib. The shrine is frequently visited by
Sikh yatris as part of a pilgrimage route in Pakistan.
The first gurdwara is believed to have been built at
the site in the 16th century by the grandson of Guru Nanak, Baba Dharam
Chand. The current gurdwara was built by Ranjit Singh in the
19th century.
86 Sikhs were killed during the 20 February
1921 Nankana massacre, which took place after a confrontation between
supporters of the gurdwara's manager, Mahant Narayan Das, and members of
the reformist Akali movement who accused him of both corruption and
sexual impropriety.
The gurdwara complex is listed on the Protected
Heritage Monuments of the Archaeology Department of Punjab.
