Legend has it that during the times of Hinduism in Java there lived Lara Djonggrang, a princess from the kingdom of Boko, renowned for her stunning beauty. Lara Djonggrang’s father, King Prabu Boko was killed by an evil giant Bandung Bondowoso, the son of King Prabu Damar Boyo from the prosperous rival kingdom of Pengging. Blinded by her beauty, the malicious prince fell madly in love with the princess, proposed marriage and was determined to wed her at all cost.
The heartbroken princess Lara Djonggrang vowed not to ever marry the man who had murdered her own father and invaded her beloved kingdom. When Bandung Bondowoso, who was believed to possess supernatural powers, insisted on the marital union, the mourning princess finally agreed on one impossible condition: he must construct a thousand temples for her overnight.
Unable to complete the task all by himself, Bandung Bondowoso summoned hundreds of demon spirits from the earth to help him. They set up to work at dusk. As dawn approached, the demons had completed 999 temples and started to build the final one. Worried that the last temple would be finished by sunrise, Lara Djonggrang aroused her palace maids to light a fire in the east, to begin pounding rice in the barns and to scatter fragrant flowers all over the kingdom – a traditional dawn activity. The sound of the pounding woke the rooster who then began to crow. When the demons heard the noises and smelled the flowers, they were fooled into thinking that the sun was about to rise. They fled back into the earth, leaving the last temple incomplete.
Enraged beyond imagination, Bandung Bondowoso placed a curse and turned Lara Djonggrang into a stone statue so that she would never be able to love another forever. The story of Lara Djonggrang’s sacrifice lives through times. When the Gods heard the prayers sent by the maidens of the kingdom, they sent the princess to be taken to the heavens, riding on a Javanese mythological lion, where she finally found eternal peace.
The story of Lara Djonggrang lives through time, symbolizing a daughter’s undying love and loyalty for her father, finally sacrificing her life for him.
Imperial Indonesian Cuisine
The legend of Lara Djonggrang, although still could be heard deep in the lands of Java, remains only as one of the most enchanting, well-kept secrets that has been told only from parents to children for thousands of yeares. It sets as an example and reminder to each younger generation of the unconditional love and respect a child is expected to give to his or her parents.
Anhar Setjadibrata, founder of Tugu Hotels & Restaurants Group, dreams of living in 9th century Java, a surrounding where the legend was born. After more than a thousand years, this timeless, mystical folklore is now immortalised in Lara Djonggrang, the most romantic restaurant in Jakarta, a city famous for its vibrant evening life.
The cuisine of Lara Djonggrang has been inspired by the royal journeys through the regions during the times of the King Hayam Wuruk, who held the reign of the Kingdom of Majapahit at the beginning of the 14th century. Nagarakrtagama chronicled the King’s expeditions to cover Pajang (1353 AD), Lasem (1354 AD), Lodaya (1357 AD), 1359 AD (Lumajang), and 1360, 1361, 1363. Each of these dramatic royal expeditions, that took up to ten months at a time, had been composed by hundreds of troops and palace maids following the king and the queen on horses, elephants and horse-carriages.
The stone visualization of Lara Djonggrang on her way to heavens is one of the masterpieces in this beautiful restaurant, as well as a statue portraying her refusal to Bandung Bondowoso’s plea to marry him. The artworks presented in this restaurant bring back to life the luxurious romance and ancient atmosphere of Candi Prambanan.
Embark on an extraordinary culinary journey and relive the legends of Lara Djonggrang. For reservations, please contact us at:
Lara Djonggrang
Jl. Teuku Cik Di Tiro 4
Menteng, Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Phone: +62 21 315 3252 • +62 21 316 0288
Email: laradjonggrang[at]tuguhotels[dot]com
www.tuguhotels.com/restaurants/jakarta/laradjonggrang
