Wayanad tourism doyen Ravindran Karumathil dies at 84

Kalpetta: Ravindran Karumathil, founder of the Wayanad Tourism Organisation (WTO), passed away at his residence, ‘Pranavam’, at Pozhuthana near Vythiri on Saturday morning. He was 84.

Fondly known as Raviyettan, he played a crucial role in shaping and guiding the tourism industry in the district for nearly three decades.

As the WTO secretary for many years, he introduced several pioneering tourism concepts in Wayanad. He was among the earliest proponents of plantation tourism in the early 2000s.

After working with Apollo Tyres in Kochi, he relocated to Wayanad in the late 1990s and started Pranavam Homestay, initially offering two rooms in his house to guests.

A well-travelled man, he brought fresh ideas to the district and inspired numerous people to enter the tourism sector. Fluent in English, he famously persuaded foreign visitors to climb coconut trees to drink tender coconut they harvested themselves, and to pick pepper, coffee and cardamom. Television channels frequently showcased these moments, capturing tourists experiencing Malabar’s agrarian life firsthand.

Inspired by him, hundreds of homestays later mushroomed across Wayanad, tapping into the district’s tourism potential.

Splash, the Wayanad Monsoon Carnival, was also his brainchild. Even in his final days—despite undergoing weekly dialysis—Raviyettan remained active, working on the Seethayana Tourism Trail, which connects sites in the district associated with the folklore of Goddess Sita.

Paying tribute, former WTO secretary K R Vancheeswaran wrote that Raviyettan had touched countless lives and left a lasting imprint on the industry he devoted himself to.

“He was a person of uncommon dedication, quiet strength and unwavering commitment. Through his work, he set standards, built trust and inspired countless colleagues who saw in him a mentor, guide and friend. He believed in doing what was right, serving with integrity, and lifting others as he climbed. The systems he built, the people he trained and the values he upheld will continue to shape the industry for years to come,” he said.

Ravindran is survived by his wife, Remadevi; daughters, Dhanya and Hema; and sons-in-law, Humayun and Nipin. After the last rites at Pranavam at 11 am on Sunday, his mortal remains will be handed over to WIMS Medical College for academic purposes, in accordance with his last wish.