The Story of Bandung Bondowoso and Roro Jonggrang, a Tragic Love

The story of Bandung Bondowoso and Roro Jonggrang is like an Indonesian version of Romeo and Juliet, isn't it? This legend tells of love, power, deceit, and even betrayal.

This story is closely linked to the construction of a thousand temples as a testament to a love that ended tragically, and is believed to be the precursor to Prambanan Temple. This legend is also connected to the Ratu Boko Palace . It is said that the Ratu Boko Palace was the palace of Roro Jonggrang or the home of King Boko.

So, who was Bandung Bondowoso really? What was the story of his love with Roro Jonggrang? Let's explore the story of Bandung Bondowoso and Roro Jonggrang, which has been told for generations.

The Story of Bandung Bondowoso: Who Was He Really?

Apart from being known as a knight with immense strength who proposed to Roro Jonggrang, where did Bandung Bondowoso come from?

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom called Pengging. It was ruled by King Damar Maya. He had a son named Joko Bandung, who would later be known as Bandung Bondowoso.

It's said that Joko Bandung had been single for a long time, causing his father anxiety. According to his son, no woman had ever fallen in love with him, even among all the girls in the Pengging Kingdom. He also added that he would only marry once Prambanan had fallen into the hands of the Pengging Kingdom.

Roro Jonggrang, the Beautiful Princess Who Captivated Bandung Bondowoso's Heart

Roro Jonggrang was the daughter of the ruler of the Prambanan Kingdom, Prabu Boko. Although Prabu Boko was tall and large, and some considered him a descendant of a giant, Roro Jonggrang was actually beautiful and graceful.

Like Joko Bandung, Roro Jonggrang also had no desire to marry at a relatively mature age. This prompted King Boko to ask, "How long will this continue?"

Roro Jonggrang had an answer that aligned with Joko Bandung's: she would marry him once his kingdom was victorious in the war. His daughter's answer prompted King Boko to immediately go to the battlefield, leading his chosen troops and handing over his power to Roro Jonggrang.

Upon arriving at the battlefield, Prabu Boko successfully defeated most of the Pengging Kingdom's troops with his martial arts . This caused many of the Pengging Kingdom's troops to flee the battlefield.

Also read: Contents of the Ratu Boko Inscription, a Relic from the Ancient Mataram Period

Is Bandung Bondowoso Not a Real Name?

In the Pengging Kingdom, a soldier brought news that many of their troops had been killed. Upon hearing this, Bandung Bondowoso resolved to enter the battlefield and asked his father's permission. King Damar Maya granted his son permission.

On his way to the battlefield, Joko Bandung had to traverse a haunted forest. Legend has it that anyone who dares to pass through it will be eaten by the forest's guardian, known as Bondowoso.

Entering the middle of the forest, a large tree collapsed in front of him and hit the horse he was riding. Not long after, he was attacked by forest guards, which led to a fight between Joko Bandung and Bondowoso.

Thanks to his courage, Joko Bandung managed to get Bondowoso to admit defeat and beg for forgiveness. Bondowoso said, "If you forgive me, I will join your body, and your power will surely multiply. All the spirits in this forest will also submit to you."

Joko Bandung accepted the offer. Eventually, he became one with Bondowoso, changing his name to Bandung Bondowoso. Thanks to this union, he was able to escape the forest and reach the battlefield in record time, simply by running.

The Battle of Bandung Bondowoso and Prabu Boko

Upon arriving at the battlefield, he saw that the entire Pengging Kingdom army had been defeated by King Boko. This enraged Bandung Bondowoso. A fierce battle ensued between King Boko and Bandung Bondowoso.

Despite a fierce battle, Bandung Bondowoso, using the extraordinary powers he had previously acquired, finally defeated Prabu Boko. He then asked a soldier to escort him to Prambanan Palace.

The Meeting of Bandung Bondowoso and Roro Jonggrang: The Beginning of the Tale of a Thousand Temples

Upon setting foot in the Prambanan Kingdom, Bandung Bondowoso met Roro Jonggrang. He saw Roro Jonggrang as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and immediately fell in love with her. Roro Jonggrang did the same. When she first met Bandung Bondowoso, she was captivated by his handsome looks.

However, one of the soldiers had something more important to say. He brought news that King Boko had been defeated and killed by Bandung Bondowoso. Upon hearing this, Roro Jonggrang, who had previously admired her, became filled with hatred for Bandung Bondowoso.

Meanwhile, Bandung Bondowoso, already certain of his choice, took the initiative to propose to Roro Jonggrang as his queen. Hearing this, Roro Jonggrang didn't immediately refuse, but instead set a condition she thought Bandung Bondowoso couldn't fulfill: building a thousand temples and two wells in one night.

Bandung Bondowoso accepted the conditions. This naturally surprised Roro Jonggrang. However, she remained optimistic that Bandung Bondowoso couldn't possibly fulfill the conditions in such a short time.

Apparently, Bandung Bondowoso had enlisted the help of an army of forest spirits numbering thousands. As a result, completing a thousand temples and two wells in a single night was not impossible.

Also read: Uncovering the Myth of Ratu Boko Palace: Legend or Historical Fact?

Roro Jonggrang's Strategy

Seeing Bandung Bondowoso nearly complete the thousand temples before dawn, Roro Jonggrang was overcome with anxiety. She searched for a way to prevent Bandung Bondowoso from failing in his mission. 

Using her strategy, Roro Jonggrang had the palace maids pound the mortar, creating a loud noise. Then, palace guards were sent to set fire to wood and piles of straw on the east side. As a result, roosters throughout Prambanan crowed. Immediately, the thousands of spirits working on the temple fled in terror.

In fact, Bandung Bondowoso had only just completed 999 temples. He sensed a strange, premature dawn. He later learned that the rooster's crowing was triggered by the princess's trickery.

The End of the Story of Bandung Bondowoso and Roro Jonggrang

After Bandung Bondowoso failed to fulfill her promise, Roro Jonggrang confronted the young man and said, "Enough, you can't keep your promise. You're not worthy of being a knight because you can't keep your promise. Therefore, I won't marry you."

In his growing anger over the deception, Bandung Bondowoso cursed Roro Jonggrang to become a stone to complete the thousandth temple. Thus ended the tragic story of Bandung Bondowoso and Roro Jonggrang.

Based on the myth of Prambanan Temple which still exists today, the statue of Roro Jonggrang is believed to be stored inside Shiva Temple, one of the main temples in Prambanan.

“Sandyakala Bandung Bondowoso”, Reviving Legends in Art

To this day, the story of Bandung Bondowoso and Roro Jonggrang remains a popular tourist attraction at Ratu Boko Palace and Prambanan Temple. To revive this folktale, Ratu Boko Palace presents a dance performance titled "Sandyakala Bandung Bondowoso," which tells the story of Bandung Bondowoso.

Sandyakala Bandung Bondowoso will be held on September 5, 2026, starting at 4:30 PM WIB. This performance, which combines the beauty of the sunset over Ratu Boko and the elegance of cultural dances, is free for visitors with Ratu Boko Palace entrance tickets, with no additional fees!

If you're interested in watching it, it's recommended to arrive before 2:30 PM WIB. To make your visit more convenient, you can secure your Ratu Boko Palace entrance tickets now online through the official ticketing page provided by Injourney Destination Management.

Don't miss it, come and witness the luxurious show at Keraton Ratu Boko and create a memorable experience with us!

Also read: Sandyakala Jonggrang, Presenting the Beauty of Legends and Culture