The Sri Chithralayam popularly known as Sri Chithra Art Gallery was opened to the public by the erstwhile Maharaja of Travancore Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma on the 25th of September 1935 for the enjoyment elucidation and development of Artistic taste of the people. The major works in display were the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma - a repository of artistic achievements and the means of development of artistic taste. The Sri Chithralayam is a standing monument to the finest of fine arts namely paintings. It has a collection of paintings in India along with a few from other parts of Asia with distinct stamp of Indian culture. 

The achievement from the influence of Europe through oil colour has come from Travancore in the works of Raja Ravi varma and other members of the Kilimanoor family.
The Art Gallery has gathered on permanent loan through the kindness of the head of the family, a representative collection consisting 46 original paintings of Raja Ravi Varma being examples of this phase of painting in India.Apart from this 16 numbers of Pencil Sketches and 14 numbers of Chromolithographs are displayed here along with the Artist’s Easel.