The most important feature of the Mukteshvara Temple is the torana, or the arched gateway, dating back to about 900 CE and showing the influence of Buddhist architecture.

[8] The arched gateway has thick pillars that have strings of beads and other ornaments carved on statues of smiling women in languorous repose.

The combination of vertical and horizontal lines is skilfully arranged so as to give dignity of buildings of moderate height.

[9] The gateway has sculptures that range from elaborate scrolls to pleasant female forms and figures of monkeys and peacocks.

A new form of decoration called bho, possibly developed here, became a prominent feature in later Odishan temples.

It is a highly ornate chaitya window crowned by masked demon head and dwarf figures.

[7] The sanctum is sculpted with beautiful damsels exhibiting feminine charms entwined with nagas and naginis.

[12] Except for the rectangular plan of its jagamohana, it is the earliest example of what may be termed proper Odisha temple type; a vimana with a curvelinear spire and a jaganmohana with a stepped pyramidal roof.

[13] The temple's red sandstone is covered with exquisite carvings of lean sadhus or holy men and voluptuous women encrusted with jewels.

[7] The doorway to the inner sanctum houses the image of Ketu with three hooded snakes, commonly regarded as the ninth planet in the Hindu mythology.

Some scholars correlate the role of the temple as a centre for Tantric initiation with the name Mukteshvara as a possible thesis.

[10] The outer face of the compound wall has niches of Hindu deities like Saraswathi, Ganesha and Lakulisha (the fifth century founder of the Pashupata sect of tantric Shaivism).

[4][10] The numerous images of Lakulisha are found in miniature forms within Chaitya arches, showing various mudras like yoga, Bhumispara and vyakyana with yogapatta tied to their knees.

[4] According to tradition, barren women give birth to sons if they take a dip in the Marichi Kunda tank in the premises of the temple on the night before Ashokashtami car festival.