Tanusree Shankar, dancer

nI?ve travelled all over India and across the world, both for work and for pleasure, but looking back, the one holiday that stands out vividly in my mind is my trip to Kodaikanal in 1998. Strange as it may sound, it was the first time that Ananda, my daughter Mishtu and I were getting the chance to go somewhere together after a long time, for getting a break at the same time was a luxury indeed.

But during those seven days at Kodaikanal, we ensured that we spent every moment together. We visited Satya Sai Baba?s ashram, took in all the local sights and sounds, ate at loads of restaurants and just spent time going for long walks and revelling in the beauty of nature. Just looking out of the window was a wonderful experience, for we were putting up at the Kodaikanal Club near the lake, which afforded a stunning view of the surrounding locales.

All in all, it was a really special trip, made even more so by the fact that it was the first time that the three of us had gone for a holiday together after our trip to New York in the early ?90s. Sadly enough, though, it was also the last time we could go for a holiday together, for Ananda passed away the very next year. That?s probably why to me, Kodaikanal will hold sweet memories forever.