In a jungle in north-west Cambodia, a long-lost ancient city was found by researchers.

Mahendraparvata, which translates as "Mountain of Indra (King of Gods)," was supposed to have been the initial capital of the Khmer Empire and was a vibrant metropolis more than a thousand years ago.

Scientists had even disagreed on the best place to hunt for the remnants of this enigmatic location, after decades of futile search efforts.

That is, until a trailblazing expedition that ended in 2019 unearthed a trove of knowledge about the hidden city, which is nearly 300 years older than the iconic Angkor Wat structure.

When Khmer ruler Jayavarman II was dedicated in 802 AD, Mahendraparvata was discovered, according to analysis of the find in Phnom Kulen National Park. The historic Khmer Empire was established at this time.

Modern Lidar (light detection and ranging) laser-scanning techniques were used to precisely locate the city, which is situated 40 kilometers north of Angkor Wat, the greatest temple in the world.

Archaeologist Jean-Baptiste Chevance of the Archaeology and Development Foundation in the UK noted in a report on the amazing discovery that comprised over two dozen previously unrecorded temples: "The mountainous region of Phnom Kulen has, to date, received strikingly little attention. It is almost entirely missing from archaeological maps, except as a scatter of points denoting the remains of some brick temples

"The Ancient Khmer modified the landscape, shaping features on a very large scale – ponds, reservoirs, canals, roads, temples, rice fields and more. However, the dense forest often covering the areas of interest is a main constraint to investigating them", he continued.

However, a major obstacle to exploring the locations of interest is frequently the dense forest that covers them.

The team's use of laser technology allowed them to see through centuries' worth of vegetation that had grown over the city's ruins.

Then, across the jungle's 50 sq km, they could see a vast urban network.

According to the researchers, "numerous other elements of the anthropogenic landscape connect to this broader network, suggesting the elaboration of an overall urban plan. Dams, reservoir walls and the enclosure walls of temples, neighbourhoods and even the royal palace abut or coincide with the embanked linear features."

Despite its vastness, the city was not inhabited for very long since people moved to easier-to-live-in terrains.

Damian Evans, of the French School of the Far East, told the New Scientist: "The city may not have lasted for centuries, or perhaps even decades. But the cultural and religious significance of the place has lasted right up until the present day."