Khmer Empire

Deep in a warm, green jungle, monkeys chatter and colorful birds sing happy songs. If you peek through the big, leafy trees, you can see a secret. There are amazing stone buildings with pointy roofs that touch the sky. On the walls, friendly stone faces are smiling at you. It is a magical place hidden for a very long time. I am the Khmer Empire, a magical kingdom from long ago.

I was born a very, very long time ago, in the year 802. A great king named Jayavarman the 2nd wanted to build a special home for his people. My people were very clever. They built big stone temples, putting each stone on top of another, like stacking giant blocks. They carved beautiful pictures of dancers and animals right into the stone. They also dug long, watery roads to bring water to the farms, so everyone had yummy rice to eat. Later, in the 12th century, my people built my most famous temple, Angkor Wat. It is like a giant stone palace for the gods, with tall towers that look like flower buds.

My time as a busy kingdom ended in the 15th century, but my beautiful stone temples are still standing tall in the jungle. People from all over the world come to visit me. They walk through my quiet halls and look at the wonderful stories carved on my walls. I love sharing my secrets with my visitors. I am here to remind you that even things made of stone can tell stories, and to inspire you to build wonderful things and tell your own stories, too.