Have you ever wondered what it felt like to walk through a rainbow? Well, welcome to Kampung Pelangi - the Rainbow Village of Semarang. Kampung Pelangi in Bahasa Indonesia literally translates as 'Rainbow Village'. As you'll see, the colorful village is deserved of its name. What's more, the story behind Kampung Pelangi is nothing short of inspirational.

KAMPUNG PELANGI - THE RAINBOW VILLAGE OF SEMARANG

Located in Central Java, Kampung Wonosari (its original name) was previously considered a slum. As a native of Kampung Wonosari, a local high school principal, Slamet Widodo, came up with the brilliant idea of painting the houses in bright colors and patterns. He was inspired by other villages in Indonesia that had successfully underwent a similar makeover. Slamet Widodo's goal was to breathe new life into the village to improve the squalor living conditions of the slum dwellers. Seeing the benefits, the city administration assigned 300,000,000 rupiahs (+/- $20,000 USD) to the high school principal to launch the project.

The residents of Kampung Wonosari were encouraged to participate in the embellishment of the dreary slum. As a result, almost every house and alleyway was painted in vibrant artwork and color blocks. Many walls were transformed into beautiful murals. From children to elders, residents let their creative juices flow and the result is absolutely stunning. Rainbow Village is a smorgasbord of infinite colors and creativity that will surely make your heart sing.

Read also: Finding Unexpected Street Art in Semarang

Kampung Pelangi is set on a small hill which means you'll be doing a lot of climbing. Standing at the bottom of the hill offers panoramic views of the houses painted in rainbow designs. But, the real magic happens once you start wandering around the maze of alleys. No surface was spared: every wall, pathway and even rocks and recycling bins were infused with colors. It was raining when I visited the village but the heavy rainfall couldn't wipe the smile off my face. I was charmed by Kampung Pelangi as soon as I laid eyes on it. I'm already a fan of urban street art but the reason behind the birth of Kampung Pelangi made it that much more special.

As anticipated, Kampung Pelangi has become an Instagram-worthy tourist hot spot in Semarang. Despite the influx of outsiders snapping pics, the residents of Rainbow Village remain incredibly friendly and welcoming. I think their good humor might be attributed to being surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colors (Read: Color Psychology: Does It Affect How You Feel?). Every villager I passed said hello to me, others waved from their windows. As an added benefit, the inauguration of Kampung Pelangi has helped in boosting the economy. Locals have opened convenience stores, while others now sell souvenirs (some are their own creations).

If ever you're in Central Java, make sure to pay a visit to Kampung Pelangi - the Rainbow Village of Semarang. Contrary to what the name suggests, the 'village' isn't in a hard-to-reach, remote area. In fact, the slum-turned-Rainbow Village is located right in the city, making it very easy to get to. Most people know about the village but, as a reference, you can mention Kembang Kalisari Market (the village is behind the market). If you want to take public transportation, there's a bus stop conveniently located right in front of the market. From the village, you'll have no problems getting to other tourist attractions in Semarang.

Read also: A Visit to the Charming Old Town of Semarang

Have you been charmed by Kampung Pelangi - the Rainbow Village of Semarang?