Despite the quantitative name, nobody really knows if the temple actually has a thousand images of Ram. Based on of the temple’s accurate axial alignment and its prominent location in the royal enclosure, it can be guessed that this beautiful temple was an important one in those times.
Wrapped around the outside wall, going clockwise, are three bands of panels depicting 108 scenes from Valmiki's Ramayana. The story goes that the kings would make three parikrama – circumambulation - of the temple every morning. The panels simulated them reading the epic every day. Was this the first Ramayana comic?
The panels are arranged such that the corners and doorways have important episodes, a clue into how the designers thought of visual placements. The following two panels that show extreme human body expression are two of my favorites.
Ram breaking Parashuram’s bow
Ram killing Bali
