Puri's Jagannath Temple: Not just a spiritual icon, but a land giant too

India Dec 06, 2025

Turns out, the famous Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri isn't just about rituals and history—it actually owns over 60,000 acres of land across Odisha and nearly 400 more acres in six other states.
The temple's roots go back to the 12th century, and it's looked after under a special law from 1956.

Where's all that land—and what's happening with it?

The temple's land stretches across 24 districts in Odisha, plus spots in West Bengal and Maharashtra.
The administration currently holds revised land records for over 38,000 acres and is taking steps to secure temple property.
With almost a thousand cases of illegal encroachment reported, they're taking legal action to reclaim about 169 acres—showing they're serious about looking after what belongs to the temple.