Angkor Wat : My travel diary by Aarna, 11, Gurgaon
Let’s head over to Cambodia through 11-year-old Aarna’s superb travel blog. Have you been there?
Travelling is a journey to connect with the world and see the world from the perspective of others. This summer, I ventured to the mainland of Southeast Asia, to the resort town of northwestern Cambodia, Siem Reap. Siem Reap is home to one of the most important archeological sites of Southeast Asia. It is the gateway to the Angkor complex which is well known for the largest temple in the world, Angkor Wat.
Angkor welcomed me with warm air, trees and lotus ponds which framed a breathtaking view. I stood in awe and admired the enormous temple that stood in front of me. I sauntered towards the Angkor Wat temple complex. The complex consists of more than a thousand buildings, and covers more than 400 acres. Angkor Wat is considered as one of the greatest examples of Khmer architecture. This form of architecture typically consists of enclosed concentric walls, with the central sanctuary in the middle. I had a pleasant time exploring this unique form of architecture that is popular in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
The temple of Angkor Wat is derived from Hinduism. Earlier, the temple was dedicated to the gods, Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu who are also known as the Trimurti, translated as “Trinity”.
A highlight of my exploration of Angkor Wat was admiring the sculptures representing Hindu gods and the engraved scenes of Mahabharata and Ramayana.
A fascinating fact about the Angkor Wat is that by the declaration of King Jayavarman VII, Angkor Wat became a Buddhist shrine, and many of its carvings and statues of Hindu deities were replaced by Buddhist art.
No travel is complete without food and I had a great time exploring local cuisine. Cambodian cuisine uses rice as a main food source, but noodles are also popular. Amok is especially popular in the region of Angkor, it consists of meat or fish, cooked with coconut milk, veggies, and spices. Cambodian cuisine comprises a majority of non-vegetarian food. I have a vegetarian diet therefore the options in Cambodia were limited for my diet.
During the summer season, Cambodia can be quite warm. I recommend not visiting Angkor Wat during the summers because walking is a major element for the exploration of the temple and it can become very uncomfortable when it is hot.
To conclude, Angkor Wat is a must-visit to learn a great extent about the history of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
It is home to impressive architecture, the centre of the Khmer empire, embodies Hinduism and Buddhism, and has some spectacular artworks that will leave you amazed!
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Image Source- All photos shared by the writer
