Angkor Wat: The lost temple in the jungle

This children’s article, Angkor Wat: The lost temple in the jungle, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It helps children practise reading and comprehension, learn exciting vocabulary, and discover one of the world’s most amazing ancient sites. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.

A hidden wonder in the trees

In the middle of the jungle in Cambodia, a giant stone temple rises above the trees. It’s called Angkor Wat, and it’s the biggest religious building in the world! Long ago, this amazing temple was the heart of a great empire, but it was hidden for hundreds of years, covered by the thick jungle that grew over it.

Today, people from around the world visit Angkor Wat to explore its towers, carvings, and mysterious past.

City of temples

Angkor Wat was built in the early 1100s, that’s more than 900 years ago, by the Khmer Empire, which once ruled much of Southeast Asia. At its height, Angkor was a huge city with hundreds of temples, homes, markets, and canals. More than a million people may have lived there, making it one of the biggest cities in the world at the time.

Angkor Wat was the name of the biggest and most important temple of all. It was built by King Suryavarman II to honour the Hindu god Vishnu.

A temple fit for the gods

The temple was made with giant sandstone blocks, beautifully carved with thousands of pictures and patterns. There are carvings of gods, battles, animals, and dancers all over the walls. The five tall towers are shaped like lotus flowers, a sacred plant in Hindu and Buddhist religions.

The whole place was carefully planned to match the stars and seasons. The temple faces west, which is rare for Hindu temples. Some experts believe it may have also been built as a tomb for the king.

Lost and found

After thriving for hundreds of years, the Khmer Empire began to fall. People left the city, and the jungle slowly took over. Even though some Buddhist monks stayed and looked after the temple, much of Angkor was forgotten by the outside world.

In the 1800s, explorers from Europe visited the area and were amazed by the ruins. Since then, archaeologists have worked to study and protect the site.

A place of wonder today

Now, Angkor Wat is a symbol of Cambodia. It’s even on the country’s national flag! You can visit it today by flying to the nearby city of Siem Reap.

People come from all over the world to climb its steps, walk through its stone halls, and imagine what life was like in the ancient city of Angkor.

Article vocabulary list

• Temple – A building where people pray or worship gods
• Empire – A large group of countries or areas ruled by one leader
• Carving – A picture or design cut into stone or wood
• Khmer – The name of the people and language of ancient Cambodia
• Lotus – A beautiful flower that grows in water, often used in religion
• Tomb – A place where someone is buried
• Jungle – A thick forest with lots of trees and plants
• Monk – A man who lives a religious life, often in a temple or monastery
• Ruins – Broken remains of old buildings
• Archaeologist – A person who studies ancient places and objects

Comprehension questions

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