The temple, as it stands today, has been renovated and restored a great deal. The entire complex is aligned to the east, to the rising sun whose movements and moods are reflected in one of the most beautiful tanks to be seen in India. A patterned flight of stairs with niches for images of the presiding deities and platforms for rituals in geometric order descend down to the water level from all sides, and the sunlight casts brilliant shadows over the entirety.
The tank was used for ablutions and ritual cleansing. Leading to the temple from the tank is a huge ornamental gate or toran. From the toran one enters the highly ornate and decorated, detached mandap or hall of the temple dedicated to Surya the sun god. Within the main hall the pillars, ceilings, and walls of the temple are finely carved and the monochrome yellowish sandstone glows in the light of its celestial deity. There are graceful figures of women, couples in embrace, animals, camel riders, and the entire gamut of life that prospers and grows in the care of the sun.
The garbha griha roof has collapsed but the shell has been reconstructed to give some idea of the dimensions of the structure. The outer wall of the temple carries numerous sculptures in bands around the surface of the wall, and some of the pieces are excellent examples of the high level of refinement this school of art had reached in the early eleventh century. There are several images of Surya standing astride his chariot as it makes its way across the sky each day, drawn by seven horses representing the seven colours of light and the days of the week.