Career
Varghese took a Master"s degree in Zoology and Behavioral Science. His personal interest was in the nature of Kerala. Varghese"s most important contribution to the field of tourism in Kerala is perhaps the conversion of the traditional Kettuvallam rice boat into a touring and cruising houseboat.
This helped to rescue the then declining industry of boating, boat building and artisans working with bamboo.
To date (2011) there are more than a thousand tour boats that ply the backwaters of Kerala. The popular symbol of Kerala is a houseboat mainly because of Varghese.
Varghese introduced Tree-houses into Kerala tourism by co-opting the help of local tribes and using their expertise. Converted Eru-madoms, traditional tribal treetop dwellings such as at Wayanad, have become tourist destinations.
Varghese also helped give the Tiger Trail project a new direction and market.
