Ravi Varma was haunted by painful experiences in the evening of his life. He suffered a personal loss when Raja Raja Varma, his brother, fellow traveller and alter ego passed away after a brief illness in 1905. It was a soul-shattering blow from which he never recovered. As his health started failing, the long cherished plan to convert the Puthen Malika into an Art Gallery to display his paintings could not be materialised. (Later around 75 of these original paintings were handed over to the Sree Chithra Art Gallery under permanent loan scheme). Ravi Varma's plan was to renounce worldly life and accept sanyasa at the age of 60. But worsening diabetes took its toll and he bade goodbye to his palette and canvas at the age of 58 on 2 October 1906 at Kilimanoor Palace, leaving behind an array of inimitable paintings that stood the test of time. Ravi Varma Smriti Mandapam is situated near the Kilimanoor Palace.