A long time ago, in Prambanan, there lived a beautiful princess named Roro Jonggrang, the daughter of King Boko. After King Boko was defeated in a war, a powerful prince named Bandung Bondowoso fell in love with her and wanted to marry
her.
However, Roro Jonggrang did not love him. To refuse politely, she gave him an impossible condition: Bandung had to build a thousand temples in one night. Bandung agreed. With the help of spirits, he built the temples very quickly.
When Roro Jonggrang saw that the work was almost finished, she grew anxious. She tricked the spirits by ordering her maids to pound rice and light fires, making the roosters crow as if dawn had arrived. The spirits left, thinking morning
had come, and only 999 temples were completed.
Realizing he had been deceived, Bandung Bondowoso was furious. He cursed Roro Jonggrang into stone. The statue is believed to be the thousandth temple, which today stands in the Prambanan Temple complex.