The temple is constructed on high-raised plinth, measuring 55.5 feet (16.9 m) square and about 9 feet (2.7 m) above the bottom step (called the moon stone) of the shrine, and virtually divided into nine equal size squares with the main shrine built in the central square of 18.5 feet square with the sanctum being 9.75 feet square from onside. The four corner shrines, placed on each corner, measure about 11 feet square and the total height of the shrine based on isometric projections is about 45 feet (14 m). Access to the platform is provided from all the four sides through staircases in the middle.

Cunningham, unaware of the Panchayatana structure found later upon excavation, had found two pillars, 9.5 feet high, of the Gupta order lying over the plinth and had thought that these pillars would have been used for supporting a portico as seen in other Gupta temple. Also having found portions of architraves, 3 to 4 feet long, coming out from the top of the side walls, at the height of 13.5 feet, he had then proposed that the pillars along with base and capital would have reached 13.5 feet height and thus supported a canopy with flat roof on each side of this temple.

However as no base and capital was found at the site and since against sixteen pillars according to his plan, only four such pillars were found, the latest study by M S Vats proposes the existence of a shade, 5 feet wide, probably built to protect the niches and supported by jutting cantilever beams seen surviving on the eastern side, on all four sides. The slabs forming this canopy were tapered outward. M D Vats does not go with Cunningham or Brown as he states that there was no portico supported on pillars. His reasoning is based upon lack of findings of such pillars at the site.

He then suggests that the architraves jutting out of the walls were used to support flat stone roof to provide a shade on all four sides. This stone roof was tapered at the outside and no support was provided from the pillars as the architraves were adequate enough to support this roof.