The pediment atop the outer gopura, or entry pavilion, that greets visitors at the eastern entrance to the temple

A broader view of the outer, eastern gopura.

The carving on the pediment depicts the god Indra, lord of the sky and ruler of Tavatimsa Heaven, atop his traditional mount, the multi-headed elephant Airavata.

A displaced pediment seems to depict the abduction of Sita, Rama's spouse, in a scene from the Hindu classic Ramayana.

The ruins of a gallery beside the walkway between the outer gopura and the second of four gopuras that lie along the eastern entryway to the inner temple.

The inner temple is enclosed within an outer wall and a moat.

Inscription on one of the support columns of the second gopura

Beyond the moat is the inner temple, enclosed within another laterite wall.

Beyond the moat, another gopura is set within the laterite wall.

The pediment depicts Shiva, to whom the central sanctuary was dedicated, seated atop a fierce-faced kala demon, a benign threshold guardian.

Just inside the second laterite wall, a final entry pavilion is set within an enclosing gallery, leading directly to the temple's innermost sanctuary.

On the pediment over the entryway, Shiva performs his dance of destruction of the universe that will lead to the creation of a new universal order.

One of the structures within the inner temple. Such buildings are traditionally referred to as 'libraries,' though their exact purpose is unknown. Note the false doorway, a feature often found in Khmer temple buildings.

False windows with lathe-turned balusters

Temple guardians seen through a passageway leading to the inner sanctuary

Another 'library' structure within the inner temple

The pediment on the east side of the 'library' structure shows Indra at the top, again on the multi-headed elephant Airavata. He is causing it to rain on the forest scene below him in order to put out a fire caused by the god Agni. Krishna stands on a chariot to one side of the forest creatures; his brother Balarama is opposite.

Gopura set within the western wall of the inner enclosure

The scene on the pediment is from the Ramayana. It shows one of Rama's monkey allies, Sugriva, in hand-to-hand combat with his brother-turned-enemy, Vali.

Three towers stand within the temple's inner sanctuary (the third barely visible here, to the left of the central tower). An entry vestibule, called a mandapa—partially seen behind the two monkey guardians at left—and a short connecting corridor to its right lead to the central tower.

Human figures with lions' heads and monkeys serve as temple guardians.

The central tower or sanctuary was dedicated to Shiva, as was the one on the south, seen in the foreground here. The third tower, to the back and left in the photo, was dedicated to Vishnu.

Here is a somewhat fuller view of the mandapa and the short corridor that connect to the central tower.

The carving on the central towers is masterfully and exquisitely done.