Garhwal Post Bureau
MUSSOORIE, 5 Jul: Celebrated travel writer duo Hugh and Colleen Gantzer have been awarded the Padma Shri—India’s fourth-highest civilian award—for the year 2025. The award was conferred posthumously on Colleen Gantzer in recognition of her remarkable contribution to travel literature.
Due to health reasons, Hugh Gantzer was unable to travel to New Delhi to receive the award. Acknowledging this, Shailesh Bagauli, Secretary to the Government of Uttarakhand, made a special visit to their residence in Mussoorie and presented the Padma Shri medal to Hugh Gantzer at home.
Active in travel writing since the 1950s, the Gantzer couple has been instrumental in bringing India’s cultural diversity, historical heritage, and everyday life to the forefront through their distinctive narrative style. Their popular column, “The Gantzers’ Travelogue”, along with their travel documentaries aired on Doordarshan, brought India’s beauty and essence to a nationwide audience.
Hugh’s sharp journalistic insight combined with Colleen’s gentle expressive style elevated Indian travel literature to new heights. Their writing not only inspired countless readers to explore the country but also captured the soul of India in words.
