The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.
The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness).
Each platform represents one stage of enlightment.
Narrative panels which tell the story of Sudhana and Manohara are grouped into 11 series encircled the monument with the total length of 3,000 meters (9,843 ft).
The final gallery was not open to tourists as it is being clean from the volcanic ash of Mt Merapi's eruption.
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