A cruise into the sunset | Goa | Anuradha Goyal

Visuals of beaches and sunsets in Goa may be a cliche, yet as tourists we all go beach hopping to catch these stunning images from different vantage points. While living in Goa and having enjoyed countless sunsets from a beach close by, the romantic in me always dreamt of walking towards the setting sun, climbing the stairs created by breaking waves.

This wish almost came true when I took a ride on a yacht one evening. We boarded the sleek looking boat from Britona Jetty on the northern bank of Mandovi River. This is a bit upstream from the Santa Monica Jetty that lies on the southern bank, a boarding point for most sundown cruises or boat rides. Britona jetty had many big and small yachts parked and we kind of hopped, skipped and jumped to reach ours.

Before we set off, my friends and I took a tour of the yacht looking for a vantage point to best enjoy the experience. The interiors were plush, perfect for a conversation or a concert; the outside, however, was far more inviting. With the wind blowing through our hair and the surrounding landscape filling our senses, we decided that the deck was where we would stay. Despite having lived in Goa for years, a ride on the yacht provided a new perspective of the Goan skyline.

The captain gave us a choice to head towards the mangroves surrounding the islands of Chorao and Divar or cruise to the Arabian Sea to see the setting sun. As the sun was still high up in the sky we decided to go towards the backwaters first, which thankfully are still not as crowded, and it felt like having the vast river and mangroves to ourselves. All we could see was a one-off blue ferry going from mainland to the islands. A variety of birds - the colourful Kingfishers fishing or sitting on branches and the mighty Brahminy Kites flying across the waters - kept us company.

We did have the option of stepping ashore and taking a walk on the islands, however, as we wanted to catch the sunset, we turned back towards the sea. Cruising under the three bridges over the Mandovi was special, as we got some lovely clicks, especially the tall frame of the newly built Atal Setu.

We passed a slew of cruise boats parked on either side of the river preparing for the evening cruise as the skyline of Panaji city appeared on our left and the Reis Magos fort on our right.

As our yacht cut through the waters it almost felt as if we were walking into the sunset where the Arabian Sea turned golden complemented by the most stunning sky making it the perfect capture of the surreal moment. Soon it was time to enjoy the lavish spread of sundowners and small bites. As the sun bid adieu and dipped over the horizon, we settled on the deck for some soul lifting music.

As the twilight hour moved into the night, it was wonderful to see the reflection of the twinkling lights of the casinos and the city. And it wasn't long before the night vibe set in. This was an evening that would stay etched in my memory for a long time to come.

With the beaches getting crowded and overrun with tourists, sailing trips on a yacht are becoming very popular for bespoke experiences, pre-wedding shoots, intimate ceremonies and for small gatherings or friends who want to have a private space to themselves with all the luxuries of a hotel thrown in. One can also indulge in scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, or kayaking both on Goa’s rivers and the sea from one’s yacht. What’s more you can even customise your experience on the yacht. It comes at a cost but having experienced it, I can say it is well worth it.

For more information, contact: http://www.goayacht.com/ or +91 9552934534