Phimeanakas (Khmer: ប្រាសាទភិមានអាកាស, literally meaning 'celestial temple') at Angkor, Cambodia, is a Hindu temple in the Khleang style, built at the end of the 10th century, during the reign of Rajendravarman (រាជេន្ទ្រវរ្ម័នទី២) in the shape of a three tier pyramid as a Hindu temple.
Phimeanakas is located inside the walled enclosure of the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom north of Baphuon.
On top of the pyramid there was a tower, while on the edge of the top there are galleries.
The tower was originally crowned with a golden pinnacle. According to legend, the king spent the first watch of every night with a woman thought to represent a Nāga in the tower, during that time, not even the queen was permitted to intrude.
In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, the Nāga is a semi-divine race of half-human half-serpent beings, if the king did not show up at the tower, calamity would strike his land.
Although Phimeanakas is not as famous as Angkor Wat (អង្គរវត្ត), it was deemed as the archetype of Angkor Wat.
There is a large pond next to Phimeanakas, the most well preserved remains from the royal palace. The pond was probably built by king Jayavarman VIII (ជ័យវរ្ម័នទី៨), now becomes the swimming pools for the kids.
