We all have images in our minds about faraway places and the people that occupy them. Whether accurate or not, these ideas are often put in our heads by the news we consume, school textbooks or social media.

*Dawn Lwakila exploring bush-trails in India’s rural Tamil Nadu*

I’m one of those folks who likes to go and see for herself. I’ve spent the past 30 years living and traveling across four continents. My roots are in northern Canada—Yukon to be exact. Many would think this to be the absolute opposite in every way from my current home in the big bustling city of Chennai, the capital of India’s southern state, Tamil Nadu. Fortunately, I live on the outskirts of the city which enables me to get into the countryside fairly quickly. I believe it is my small-town roots that have allowed me to feel comfortable and at home in rural settings here in India.

*Ganesh temple in Tamil Nadu’s Chengalpattu District.*

*I love wandering the dreamy hills of Munnar, Kerala.*

I’m a wanderer at heart, and I am happiest walking from village to village, hilltop to hilltop. Some days I only walk 15km and other days I may walk more than 40km. I take backroads and bush trails, all the while documenting what I find beautiful with a few photos and videos, posted almost daily on my Instagram. Photography is a wonderful form of storytelling and the tale that I aim to tell isn’t often heard. I have been warned countless times not to walk alone in India. From mainstream media, I have been inundated with images representing India as a place of filth, overcrowding and crime. This has not been my experience.

*Mambakkam Lake, Tamil Nadu. I love to leave my house while it’s still dark so that I can reach these magnificent locations at sunrise.*

Over the past several years I have walked through much of South India exploring my home-state of Tamil Nadu as well as Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. There has not been a single incident where I felt threatened or unsafe. Rather, I have been greeted with nothing but kindness and hospitality. I have walked through bustling cities, endless kilometers of road and countless areas of pristine natural beauty, enjoying the entire place all to myself.

*Following back-roads in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.*

I choose to go to locations that are off the beaten path. I search Google Maps for interesting features in the landscape and simply go check it out. One of my favorite things to do is follow small backroads from village to village. I cut through farmland and learn when each of the crops is planted and harvested. I find wondrously forgotten temples, tucked away in forests or on hilltops, unvisited except by a few folks from nearby settlements. I prefer to see life slowed down and simplified. For me, rural India offers the most incredible scenery where I am always bound to meet kind-hearted people who offer me smiles, refreshments and places to rest my tired feet.

*Misty morning, cutting through the forest at sunrise to find a hidden lake.*

*Enjoying the coast of Kerala after trekking the highlands.*

I feel so grateful for the sense of pride in the beauty of South India my photography has sparked. Many people, especially in the cities of India, have their eyes fixed on international destinations. When they look at tourism in India they often head to large resort towns or famous national parks. There is a sense of surprise when people see my images and learn of places in their own backyards that rival these famous destinations. I have received both local and national media coverage, which boggles my mind, but I guess this is because I’m doing something that the majority of women are not doing and, with a fresh set of eyes, I’m showcasing humble locations that are largely overlooked.

The comment I get the most from people who have never visited India is, “This is not how I pictured India to be.” For me, this is the greatest compliment, as it means that people are reevaluating the impressions they have about this country that is so dear to my heart.

*Muttukadu Backwaters at sunrise. This is an important nesting and feeding area for both local and migratory birds.*

*An old neglected temple in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu.*

I like to approach new places with the idea that I’m a simple student and that those around me have something of value to offer. Trying to absorb as much as I can, I chose to share through my photography what intrigues and inspires me. I look for a sense of belonging and what connects me to others. Over the years I have learned that despite the superficial things that mark our differences—language, religion, politics—there is much more that unites us as humans. Step by step I find that all my previous notions about a place are left behind, replaced by a much more balanced and authentic understanding.

*Peaceful moments walking from village to village.*

Nothing compares to making my way through a new place on foot. The world slows right down and all the little details come into view. Precious moments that could never be captured any other way have become my daily reality. I am grateful for this journey and my hope is that it will inspire others to get out there and explore in a way that allows them to feel intimately connected to the places they visit.

Feel free to stay up to date with my adventures. You can find me on Instagram @dawned_onme or on Youtube: Wander Woman.

Dawn continually takes the path less trodden, both figuratively and literally. She loves to really live in a place and grow some roots there — as well as a good wander and the freedom to explore. Canada is her homeland, but her heart and soul are scattered across the globe. She has journeyed through over 30 countries and still has an ever-growing bucket list of new places to experience. She is currently based out of Tamil Nadu India.