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THE SIKH PILGRIMAGES
Pakistan is a country where different religious and ethnic communities live side by side in peace and harmony. For the Sikh community a pilgrimage to Pakistan has great spirtual significance. It is here that Baba Guru Nanak was born and lived. It is here that Maharaja Ranjit Singh rose to glory.
It is in Pakistan (Punjab) that Nankana Sahib, the oldest and the most revered of all Sikh Gurdwaras, is located, also, Gurdawara Punja Sahib at Hassan Abdal.
Gurdwara Panja Sahib (Hasanabdal)
 Hasan Abdal is a small town and a railway station along the main Lahore-Peshawar railway line in (Attock) district. Close to it is a spring of cool, clean water which according to tradition was created by Guru Nanak Dev. It is said that the Guru arrived here at the end of his tour of West Asia.
According to Sikh historian, the Guru sent Mardana thrice to the Wali to drink and fetch some water, but every time the latter refused to oblige saying that the would not help a Muslim (Mardana was a Muslim) who followed a 'Hindu' Guru. Guru Nanak then asked Mardana to remove a stone nearby from there water sprang forth. At the same time Wali Kandhari's water reservoir went completely dry. Wali Kandhari, infuriated by the 'Hindu's' miracle, rolled down a rock towards the latter. Guru Nanak Dev, sitting unruffled, merely extended his right arm towards the rolling rock. Not only the rock stopped dead, his open palm made an imprint on it as if it was made of molten wax. Wali Kandhari, impressed by the miracle came down and bowed before the Guru seeking his pardon and blessing.
Sikh history originates from Nankana Sahib as Gura Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikh faith, was born here in 1469. The name of the place at that time was 'Rai Bhoi di Talvandi'. The landlord contemporary of Guru Nanak Dev was Rai Bular, who himself became a devotee of the Guru. It was renamed Nankana after the Guru. It is located about 75 kilometers west-south-west of Lahore. Nankana Sahib is in Sheikhupura district and is connected to the district town by rail and road. There are several shrines connected with the memory of Guru Nanak Dev's childhood and early youth here. Some of the are Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Gurdwara Bal Lila, Gurdwara Patti Sahib and Sacha Sauda.
Kartarpur was founded by Guru Nanak Dev at the request of some of his followers and settled here permanently with his family and some of his disciples who wanted to live near him and serve him. Here, after formally installing Bhai Lahina (renamed by him Angad) as his spiritual successor, he cast off his mortal frame and mingled with the Eternal Light of which he had been the brightest spark. It is said that his Hindu and Muslim disciples wrangled about the manner of funeral rites. Hindus constructed a dehura or samadh and the Muslims a grave. Both were after some time washed away by the waters of Ravi.
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