Destination sunset – why a drive in the golden hour is good for mind and body

Paranjay Dutt escapes the metropolis of Mumbai in search of serenity.

I wanted to experience solitude. The setting sun presents a huge spectacle in the way it lends the sky a different shade with each passing minute.

It is a much-needed escape from everything that's going on around us. Every sunset has a story, perceived differently by everyone who witnesses it. For the fisherfolk returning home, it's a relief from the hard day's labour at the sea. For travellers, it's the visual appeal of the golden hour where selfies and faces both look prettier than usual. For many people like myself, it's a sign to stop my mind from overthinking. The chance to witness a sunset like this is a kind reminder that the end of the day isn't as bad as life sometimes makes it appear to be.

It makes the drive, no matter how long, well worth it. A road trip at the day’s end itself is cathartic but seeing the sun dip below the horizon is truly calming

As romantic as the idea may sound, finding a spot to enjoy the sunset keeping in mind all social-distancing rules in a city with a population density of over 70,000 people per square mile is not without challenge. The nearest sunset spot to Mumbai is the coastal town of Alibaug, and finding serenity in such proximity to the city isn’t always guaranteed.

A very effective ferry service has added to the popularity of this town, so much so that many city dwellers have chosen it as their regular weekend getaway. But thankfully, while the number of farmhouses and BnBs has increased in the last few years, it is still possible to find some peace and calm here.

Unless you’re taking the RoRo ferry, there’s not much about the journey that deserves to be documented. The Panvel-Goa highway, only a part of which one needs to traverse to reach Alibaug, has a mix of new and old tarmac. As one gets closer to Alibaug, the roads get narrower and the population density seems to suddenly increase.

I cross the civilisation and drive until what looked like the end of the road. A 90-degree right-hander reveals, through scattered trees, the never-ending waters.

I settle in to watch street dogs play on the beach, a horse galloping through the surf and the sky turn from orange to pink, and eventually black.

These last two years have been hard for all of us and it feels good to take a step back and do something that one loves. For many it’s meditation, or other form of spiritual healing, and for car lovers, it can be driving for a few hours in the search of the perfect sunset.

Words and Photography Paranjay Dutt Twitter