Battle of Lanka

The final bas-relief (if you have made the complete circuit from Gopura III W) is a marvellously vital depiction of the climax of the Ramayana - the Battle of Lanka, in which Rama and his allies, including the monkey troops, defeat Ravana and rescue Sita. The standard of carving is excellent, and the details of the hand-to-hand fighting closely observed. The main characters are near the centre of the 51m panel. 21m from the start, Rama wields his bow while standing on the shoulders of Hanuman. Next to Hanuman stand the demon Vibhisana (Ravana's brother, with whom Rama has forged an alliance) and Rama's brother Lakshmana. 5m further on is the first of a series of duels spaced 2-3m apart: the monkey Nila vs. the rakshasa Prahasta; Valin's son Angada vs. Mahodara (Angada wrenches out the tusk of Mahodara's elephant); 20-armed Ravana on a chariot drawn by monstrous lions; Angada vs. Vajra-damstra; Angada vs. Narantaka; another monkey vs. two dragons, which he holds up by their hind legs; Hanuman vs. Nikumba; and Sugriva vs. Kumba.