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Voykit pocket guide · Pakistan
Nankana Sahib
نَنکَنہ ساہِب
Spend a half‑day in Nankana Sahib to see the main gurdwara; add a night only if you want extra prayer time.
Nankana Sahib is the birthplace of Guru Nanak and the centre of Sikh pilgrimage in Pakistan. The key site, Gurdwara Janam Asthan, is reachable in under an hour from Lahore, and the town has basic transport, food and lodging. One half‑day covers the main shrine; a full day allows a relaxed visit and a night in a local hotel.
- Country
- Pakistan
- Local name
- نَنکَنہ ساہِب
- Best months
- Oct–Mar (cool, dry)
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (hot, possible rain)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PKR
- Money
- Pakistani rupee (PKR, Rs) in cash for almost everything outside big-city hotels and malls; carry US dollars as backup.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rs 500–800 excl. bed · Mid Rs 800–1,200 excl. bed · High Rs 1,200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jazz, Zong, Telenor and Ufone sell SIMs with passport and biometric registration at franchise shops (not usually at the airport).
- Emergency
- Police 15 · Rescue 1122 1122 · Ambulance 115
- Plugs
- Types C, D · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two- and three-pin sockets; power cuts (load-shedding) are common, especially in the north.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10%.; Driver / guide: Rs 1,000–3,000 a day.; Hotel staff: Rs 200–500.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; bottled water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels; squat toilets with a water jug or hose elsewhere.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Dahi Bhale (snack) | Rs 30–50 |
| Gol Gappe (street snack) | Rs 20–40 |
| Lassi (glass) | Rs 20 |
| Rickshaw (short ride) | Rs 100–150 |
| Taxi from station to shrine (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi from station to shrine (3.1 mi (5 km)) | Rs 300–500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LHE · Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore
- About 50 km (31 mi) by road via M3 motorway; taxis or hired car available.About 31 mi (50 km) by road via M3 motorway; taxis or hired car available.
Typical fares
- Rickshaw 5 km
- about Rs 120 (check)
- Taxi station → Gurdwara (≈5 km)
- about Rs 350 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Rickshaws are the cheapest way to move short distances; taxis are available at the railway station and bus stand. Buses run on the M3 motorway linking Lahore and Karachi.
See and do
Known for
- Gurdwara Janam Asthan (Guru Nanak's birthplace)
- Sikh pilgrimage
- Punjabi street food
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Faisalabad | Bus or train from Nankana Sahib station, about 1 h 30 min | ≈2 h total |
| Sangla Hill | Local bus or rickshaw, about 45 min | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Mid‑range hotels near the railway station
- 4‑star options available; good for a night after the shrine.
- Budget guesthouses
- Simple rooms, often family‑run, close to the market.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | معاف کرناmaaf karna |
| Thank you | شکریہshukriya |
| How much is this? | یہ کتنے کا ہے؟yeh kitne ka hai? |
| Where is the bathroom? | بیت الخلا کہاں ہے؟baith al-khala kahan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Assalam o alaikum', right hand on heart; handshakes between men; avoid: Offering a hand to a woman first
- Hospitality: Accept tea; let hosts pay the first time; avoid: Refusing all offers
- Dress: Shalwar kameez is comfortable and appreciated; avoid: Shorts and sleeveless tops
- Shrines: Cover heads, shoes off, sit quietly at qawwali; avoid: Filming without permission
- Conversation: Cricket, food and family are safe topics; avoid: Religion, India and the army with strangers
Scams and watch-outs
- Rickshaw drivers may overcharge tourists – agree on fare before boarding.
- Hot summer months can be uncomfortable; carry water.
- Check train schedules in advance; some services run infrequently.
Generally safe for day visitors; keep valuables secure and use reputable transport.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Nankana Sahib yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gurdwara Janam Asthan (Guru Nanak's birthplace)
- Sikh pilgrimage
- Punjabi street food
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Nankana Sahib: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Nankana Sahib, revision 5097713 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5097713
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/nankana-sahib). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.