The Legend of Candi Prambanan

Once upon a time, there was a powerful prince named Bandung Bondowoso. He also had great
supernatural power. His soldiers were not only humans, but also genies. In a war, Bandung Bondowoso
killed Prabu Baka. Then, Bandung Bondowoso fell in love with Prabu Baka’s daughter, named Roro
Jonggrang.

Bandung Bondowoso wanted to marry this beautiful princess. However, the princess hated him because
he killed her father. “You’re very beautiful. Would you be my queen?” asked Bandung Bondowoso. Loro
Jonggrang was shocked. And she was thinking of a way to refuse Bondowoso’s marriage proposal. Then,
she came up with a plan. “If you want to marry me, you have to build a thousand temples for me in just
one night," said Loro Jonggrang. “What? That’s impossible!” said Bandung Bondowoso.

Being helped by genies, Bondowoso built many temples very fast. Roro Jonggrang wanted to fail him.
She asked all women in her village to hit rice so rooster crowed, signing that morning was coming.
Those tricks made the dark night seems to be bright and the sun was going to rise in the east.
“Oh! Look! Morning is coming! We have to go! Come on! Run!” said the genies.

All genies left their project until 999 temples. They thought morning came afterward.

Finally, Bondowoso knew that Roro Jonggrang tricked him.: “Roro Jonggrang! I have built 999 temples! I
just need one more temple! And, the temple will be you....!” He got very angry so he cursed Roro
Jonggrang into a rock statue “Arca”. Roro Jonggrang statue is inside Candi Prambanan to complete the
project of a thousand temple.