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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 can see, the colourful village is deserved of its name. What's more, the story behind Kampung Pelangi is nothing short of inspirational.

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.

The city administration acknowledged the benefits of the project, and 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. From children to elders, residents let their creative juices flow, and the result is absolutely stunning. As a result, almost every house was painted with vibrant art.

Rainbow Village is on a small hill with lots of stairs to climb up and down. Standing at the bottom of the hill offers panoramic views of the houses painted in colourful designs. But, the real magic happens once you start wandering around the maze of alleys.

Rainbow Village is an Instagram tourist hot spot in Semarang. Despite the influx of outsiders snapping pics, the residents of Rainbow Village remain incredibly friendly and welcoming. I think the kaleidoscope of colours contributes to their well-being. Every villager I passed said hello or waved from their windows.

As an added benefit, the inauguration of the Rainbow Village 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. The 'village' is close to the city, making it very easy to get to.

Most people know about the village but it’s behind Kembang Kalisari Market. If you want to take public transportation, there's a bus stop right in front of the market. From the village, you'll have no problems getting to other tourist attractions in Semarang.

READ MORE ON INDONESIA

• Things to do in the Charming Old Town of Semarang
• Finding Unexpected Street Art in Semarang

TRAVEL RESOURCES

• Verify visa requirements for Indonesia on the official website
• Book flights to Indonesia via Skyscanner
• Compare hotel prices in Indonesia on Booking.com & Agoda
• Check hostel prices on HostelWorld
• Stay connected using an Airalo E-sim for Indonesia
• Search for tours & excursions in Indonesia
• Shop for affordable travel insurance with SafetWing
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Lydia

I’m the founder and creator of Life Untraveled. I quit my corporate job, sold everything I owned and have been traveling full-time since 2018. I hope to inspire you to travel differently on a budget.

More about me here.