Hi guys, I was having a discussion with my Sikh parents and they were talking about "new evidence" of Nanak's Udasis. This is the evidence they were talking about: http://www.sikhnet.com/news/more-evidence-guru-nanak-visited-europe
My historical background is Central Asian in focus, so I can't really say anything to them other than "do you have better proof?" and smile/nod. I was hoping to come to a non-biased historical source (/r/AskHistorians) and get a historical, rather than mystical, retelling.
Thanks!
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For those just jumping in to read and not comment, the Udasis are stories of the travels of Guru Nanak, the first Guru of the Sikh faith, from his birthplace in modern-day Pakistan. I think five are considered "official canon". In those 5 he traveled all throughout Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East (including Mecca and Medina). These occurred ~1499-1524
For travels in europe I dont really know of much beyond the recent vatican releases. In terms of travels to the middle east we have the janamsakhis and a few stone tablets found in Afghanistan which help pinpoint the years fairly accurately( "In memory of the Guru, the holy Baba Nanak, King of holy men, this monument has been rebuilt with the help of seven saints" Dated 927 Hijri). Bhai bala also wrote down an account of Guru nanaks travels within india although the exact document I cant quite remember. There have been articles published about relics commemorating Guru Nanaks visits to bengal bihar and assam and most of the janamsakhis generally agree with each other about Guru Nanks travels in terms of whete he was going
That's all I can tell you at the moment. Its not much and I've only recently begin trying to delve a bit more into the academic side of Sikh history but there are plenty of books and primary sources out there.