Pakistan’s history and Sikh history are intertwined. When partition split India in 1947 and Pakistan was formed, much of the cutting and sewing back together took place in Punjab, a part of the sub-continent which had played home and anchor to Sikhism and its devotees for centuries.
In modern-day Pakistan, a mere one and a half hours outside Lahore, Nankana Sahib houses one of the most stunning and largest Sikh worship places, Gurdwara Janam Asthan. The Punjabi city is home to many of Pakistan’s (now) Sikh minority.
It is named after the first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak, who is believed to have been born in the city and first began preaching here, making it a holy site and one where Sikhs visit for pilgrimage from all over the world. Locals have worked to boost tourism in the areas surrounding Nankana Sahib city. In addition to the seven active, bustling gurdwaras, there is farmland and a resort nearby.