The five-centuries-old Mangu Mutt in front of the Jagannath Temple in Puri was finally pulled down on Monday.
The district administration demolished a major portion of the Sikh monastery leaving its inner temple with Gadi Ghar untouched.
The demolition process, which had begun on Sunday after a temporary halt, resulted in razing some shops and other business establishments enjoined to the mutt premises. Besides, a portion of the Emar Mutt adjacent to the Manguli Mutt was also cleared.
It was part of the eviction drive launched to free space within 75 metres of the Meghanad boundary wall of the Shreemandir.
During the eviction though anger was witnessed among shopkeepers for some time, it didn't have any impact on the administration on its move to clear the historic structure.
The shopkeepers complained that the administration did not allow them more time to remove their belongings elsewhere. However, with deployment of four platoons of armed police, the administration undertook the drive hassle-free.
Sources said the demolition drive would also continue on Tuesday.
Notably, the Mangu Mutt eviction drive had been halted after Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh wrote to his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik to reconsider its decision to raze the mutt due to its religious importance.
Since Guru Nanak had rested in the Mangu Mutt during his Puri visit in the 16th century, Singh had to intervene. However, the administration made it clear that main structure with Gadi Ghar would be safe and eviction would only be made for the shopping establishments and lodgings.