New Delhi: The last rites of Padma Shri awardee Hugh Gantzer were performed in Mussoorie on Wednesday (February 4).Gantzer, an acclaimed travel writer, passed away at the age of 94 on Tuesday at his residence, ‘Oakbrook’. The writer had settled in Mussoorie after retiring as a Commander from the Indian Navy.His funeral was attended by Navy officers at the cemetery on Mussoorie’s Camel Back Road and a guard of honour was given to his coffin, news agency PTI reported.He and his wife, Colleen, who was also a Padma Shri awardee, are considered to have redefined travel journalism in India with a literary career spanning five decades, over 30 books, thousands of articles and 52 travel documentaries produced for Doordarshan.The couple were awarded the Padma Shri in 2025, however, due to ill health, Hugh was unable to travel to receive it. Then Home Secretary, Shailesh Bagoli, had presented him with the award at his residence.Colleen had passed away at the age of 90 in 2024.Former Niti Ayog CEO took to X to talk about the late couple, who he described as his “great friends”.“Extremely saddened to hear about the demise of Hugh Gantzer in Mussoorie. He and the late Colleen were great friends of mine from my tourism days in Kerala. They were phenomenal travel writers who highlighted the beauty, charm and aura of India in their unique narrative style. They never minced words and were thoroughbred professionals. The contribution of this illustrious husband – wife duo towards India tourism is immense. With their demise ends an era of passionate and creative travel writing,” Kant said.The Indian Navy too posted a tribute for Gantzer on X saying, “#IndianNavy offers heartfelt condolences to the family of Cdr Hugh Gantzer (Retd) who passed away at Mussoorie on 02 Feb 26. A proud Naval veteran and a Padma Shri awardee, he pioneered Indian travel writing, and along with his late wife Colleen Gantzer, revealed India’s soul and diversity of our nation to millions. Fair winds and following seas.”