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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.
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