The old name of Nankana was Talwandi Rai Bhou.Rai Bhou was a local ruler of this area,so was his son Rai Bular.The name of Baba Nanak's father was Mehta Kalu.Nanak was born in a Hindu family.Mehta kalu was an accountant and revenue clerk in the administration of Rai Bular.

Rai Bular,a Muslim ruler was the first person who recognized that the son of his employee is a saint.The name of Talwandi rai Bhou was then changed after the name of the saint.Rai Bular donated 750 squares of his agricultural land to the Nanak which was one half of his estate. The family of Rai Bular is still settled in and around Nankana Sahib.Some of them being renowned parlimentarians.

Nankana used to be a cotton growing area,but now it is one of the biggest wheat and sugar cane center of the country.A few years ago Nankana Sahib foundation was established by the renowned sikh leader Ganga Singh Dhillon.The aim and object of the foundation was to promote Muslim-Sikh relations and to provide the people of the area with quality health,education and care.

The history repeated once again after 530 years and the land was once again donated to the Sikh foundation by Rai Bular's family.This project didn't mature because of the bureacatuc red tapyism and apprehensions which actually never existed.

Though there is no hotel facility for the Sikh pilgrims in Nankana,yet there are sufficient facilities for boarding and lodging for the Sikh visitors.Nevertheless,Rai Bular family is there as always to receive the Sikh visitors with open arms and welcoming hearts.