Kompleks Candi Muaro Takuih dikaliliangi jo dindiang batu satinggi satu meter jo ukuran 74 x 74 meter. Di dalamnyo ado ampek candi Buddha. Di antaro ampek candi, ado Candi Mahligai nan tampak babeda dibandiang candi nan lain. Candi ko marupokan stupa Buddha babantuak taratai nan tampak babeda dibandiang candi lainnyo di Indonesia, dan labiah saroman jo candi-candi lamo di Thailand jo Myanmar. Stupa tagak di ateh aleh babantuak oktagonal dan tingginyo mancapai 14,3 meter. Di puncak stupa bahiasi jo sosok singo nan ampia indak tampak dari bawah.
Pado sisi timur Candi Mahlihai ado Candi Palangka. Candi ko tabuek dari batu bata dan kini tingginyo hanyo mancapai 1,45 meter. Dilaporkan baso saisuak bangunannyo labiah tinggi jo bagian atehnyo nan alah lamo runtuah. Bangunan katigo di dalam kompleks ko adolah Candi Bungsu. Hal nan paliang tampak dari candi iko adolah dibangun dari duo jinih batu nan sangek babeda. Ciek bagian tabuek dari batu bata dan bagian lainnyo dari batu kasiak. Candi ko kini mancapai katinggian 6,2 meter. Bangunan paliang gadang adolah Candi Tuo. Alehnyo baukuran 32,8 meter x 21,8 meter jo tinggi mancapai 8,5 meter. Candi iko batingkek-tingkek jo desainnyo saroman jo stupa Candi Borobudur. Cando sadoalah candi di kompleks ko, dekorasi Candi Tuo juo minimal. Dekorasi candi nan paliang tampak adolah sosok singo nan duduak di tareh ateh.
The temple complex of Candi Muara Takus is surrounded by a 1 metre tall stone perimeter wall that measures 74 x 74 metres. The outer wall is penetrated by a gateway on the northern side. Within the walls are the remains of four substantial Buddhist temples (candi).
The most unusual of these is Candi Mahligai. This lotus-shaped Buddhist stupa is unique in Indonesia though there are numerous similar ancient structures in [[Thailand]] and [[Myanmar]]. This structure is founded on an octagonal base and reaches a height of 14.30 metres. The uppermost level of the stupa is decorated with lion figures that are barely discernible from below.
On the east side of Candi Mahligai is the base of Candi Palangka. It is constructed from red stone and now only reaches a height of 1.45 metres. It was reportedly much taller at the time of the earliest colonial expeditions to the site but the upper terraces have long since collapsed.
A third structure within the complex is Candi Bungsu. The most striking thing about this temple is that it was built from two very different kinds of stone. One part is built from red stone and the other section from sandstone. This temple now reaches a height of 6.20 metres.
The largest structure at Candi Muara Takus is Candi Tua. Its base measures 32.80 metres x 21.80 metres and it reaches a height of 8.50 metres. This temple is terraced and it bears some resemblance in its design to the much larger stupa, Candi Borobudur, in Java. Like all the temples at Candi Muara Takus, Candi Tua features only minimal decoration. The most notable decorative feature are the seated lion figures on the upper terraces.
