“Bursts of gold on lavender melting into saffron. It’s the time of day when the sky looks like it has been spray-painted by a graffiti artist” – Mia Kirshner.
Watching a sunrise or a sunset is not something we do every day. But it’s a natural phenomenon that never fails to soothe and leaves you feeling a sense of awe. So here are the 12 most beautiful sunsets you shouldn’t miss.
1. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is the largest and oldest religious monument in the world. The temple is known for its beautiful architecture with numerous devatas (guardian spirits) adorning its walls. The highlight for any traveller is to watch the sunrise over the main temple (Angkor Wat). But the sunsets are just as gorgeous.
2. Santorini, Greece
Santorini is a volcanic island in Greece. It’s known for the stunning sunsets from Oia town. The whitewashed houses make for a perfect contrast to the shades of orange, purple, and pink of the setting sun.
3. Tanah Lot Temple, Bali, Indonesia
It is also known as “The temple of the rock”. Surrounded by the swirling ocean waters, it looks breath-taking with a backdrop of the sunset.
4. Pfeiffer Beach, California, USA
You can actually find pink-purple sand on this beach. Apart from that, the see-through cave or tunnel within the massive rock formation allows for the rays of the setting sun to pass through, making it a picture-perfect setting.
5. Great Pyramids, Egypt
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex. But visiting the pyramids up close is restricted to timings. You will still be able to enjoy watching the sunset from a distance with all three pyramids in view. However, do be careful as Egypt is still facing some internal conflicts and turmoil.
6. Ayers Rock, Australia
It is a large sandstone rock formation located in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It is a gorgeous sight for viewing a sunset (or even a sunrise) as the sun plays with the natural hue of the rock turning it bright red at sunrise and then down to its natural rusty-orange as the sun sets.
7. Key West, Florida, USA
Sunsets are a daily celebration in Florida’s Key West, especially at the Mallory Square Dock. Tourists and locals descend upon the beaches to watch artists perform as the sun paints the sky in dazzling shades of pink, purple, and orange.
8. Grundarfjörður, Iceland
This unique landmark is a popular film location, a lot of movies have been filmed in Grundarfjörður. It’s a small town with a beautiful natural landscape – sea on one side, a mountain range on the other. How can that not be the perfect setting for a sunset?
9. Mount Haleakala, Hawaii, USA
Mt. Haleakala, located in the Haleakala National Park, Maui is known for its terrific sunrise and sunsets. You’ll be viewing a sunset from almost 10,000 feet above sea level. If that doesn’t make for a unique sunset viewing experience, what does?
10. The Serengeti, Tanzania
Serengeti National park, known for its diverse set of wildlife, is at its magnificent during sunset. If you’re lucky and the position is right, you can take amazing photographs of animals positioned against the backdrop of the glowing setting sun.
11. Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Go to Mehtab Bagh park for an uninterrupted view of the Taj Mahal and you can click a perfect sunset photo there.
12. Grand Canyon, Arizona
Grand Canyon has some layered bands of red rock. Both Canyon and Colorado River are known to be beautiful especially at sunrise and sunset for the way the suns rays play with the natural colour of the rocks.
