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Homedevmaster2026-07-18T17:43:18+05:30
devmaster2026-07-19T23:03:52+05:30
Historic photograph of the Cochin State Forest Tramway transporting timber through the forests of the princely State of Cochin during the British era.
Cochin State Forest Tramway, Jungle Railway, 1910 Newspaper
Gallery

Cochin State Forest Tramway, Jungle Railway, 1910 Newspaper

Cochin State Forest Tramway, Jungle Railway, 1910 Newspaper

India Railway, More

The Cochin State Forest Tramway, A Forgotten Railway in The Jungle, 1910 Newspaper A rare Scientific American newspaper, from 1910, ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-19T05:10:32+05:30
Early 20th-century postcard of a horse-drawn tram passing a Singer Sewing Machines billboard on a bustling street in colonial Bombay.
Bombay Horse Trams in the Early 20th Century, 2 Postcards 1905
Gallery

Bombay Horse Trams in the Early 20th Century, 2 Postcards 1905

Bombay Horse Trams in the Early 20th Century, 2 Postcards 1905

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Bombay Horse Trams in the Early 20th Century, 2 Postcards 1905 Two 1905 postcards offer a fascinating glimpse of Bombay's ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-18T22:50:00+05:30
British-era postcard of Lady Curzon Hospital, Bangalore, showing its Indo-Saracenic architecture and landscaped grounds.
Lady Curzon Hospital, Bangalore During The British Era, 1910 PC
Gallery

Lady Curzon Hospital, Bangalore During The British Era, 1910 PC

Lady Curzon Hospital, Bangalore During The British Era, 1910 PC

Bangalore Postcards, Old India Postcards

Lady Curzon Hospital, Bangalore, During The British Era, 1910 Postcard This 1910 British-era postcard features the elegant, old-world Lady Curzon ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-18T17:57:55+05:30
Historic view of the Madras Screw-Pile Iron Harbour with Masula boats ferrying passengers and cargo from offshore ships during the British era.
Madras Harbour & Masula Boat During The British Era, 1899 PC
Gallery

Madras Harbour & Masula Boat During The British Era, 1899 PC

Madras Harbour & Masula Boat During The British Era, 1899 PC

Madras Postcards, Old India Postcards

Madras Harbour & Masula Boat During The British Era, 1899 Postcard A 1899 postcard with a view of the iron ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-17T22:52:12+05:30
Rare 1900 postcard of Commercial Street in Bangalore (Bengaluru) during the British era showing horse-drawn traffic and colonial buildings.
Commercial Street Bangalore’s Famous Shopping Center, 1900 PC
Gallery

Commercial Street Bangalore’s Famous Shopping Center, 1900 PC

Commercial Street Bangalore’s Famous Shopping Center, 1900 PC

Bangalore Postcards, Old India Postcards

Commercial Street Bangalore’s Most Famous Shopping Center, 1900 Postcard Commercial Street in Bangalore (Bengaluru) is one of the city's oldest ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-17T19:37:40+05:30
Cover of the vintage book British Routes to India by H. L. Hoskins, exploring historic sea and overland routes between Britain and India.
British Routes To India By H L Hoskins, 1928 Book
Gallery

British Routes To India By H L Hoskins, 1928 Book

British Routes To India By H L Hoskins, 1928 Book

Books & Publications, More

British Routes To India by H. L. Hoskins, 1928 Book Title – British Routes To India Author – H L ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-17T04:56:59+05:30
Rare engraving of Fort St. George overlooking the beach in British-era Madras with fishing boats and sailing ships offshore.
Fort St George and the Beach in British Era Madras, 1840 Print
Gallery

Fort St George and the Beach in British Era Madras, 1840 Print

Fort St George and the Beach in British Era Madras, 1840 Print

Old India Prints, Other India Prints

Fort St George and the Beach in British Era Madras, 1840 Print This old 1840 engraving captures Fort St George ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-15T23:31:50+05:30
1900 advertising postcard showing a horse-drawn tram on a busy Bombay street with an A. Bertelli Venus Perfume advertisement.
Horse Tram In Bombay With Perfume Advertisement, 1900 PC
Gallery

Horse Tram In Bombay With Perfume Advertisement, 1900 PC

Horse Tram In Bombay With Perfume Advertisement, 1900 PC

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Horse-Drawn Tram In Bombay With Perfume Advertisement, 1900 Postcard A 1900 postcard captures an interesting scene of a horse-drawn tram ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-15T20:09:18+05:30
Rare British-era view of Bandora Point, now Bandra, Bombay (Mumbai), photographed from Bandra Fort overlooking Mahim Bay.
Bandora (now Bandra) During The British Era In Bombay, 1900 PC
Gallery

Bandora (now Bandra) During The British Era In Bombay, 1900 PC

Bandora (now Bandra) During The British Era In Bombay, 1900 PC

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Bandora (now Bandra) During The British Era In Bombay, 1900 Postcard A rare 1900 postcard with a view of Bandora, ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2026-07-14T06:41:03+05:30
Ulsoor Lake in the Early 20th Century, Bangalore, 1910 Postcard
Ulsoor Lake in the Early 20th Century, Bangalore, 1910 Postcard
Gallery

Ulsoor Lake in the Early 20th Century, Bangalore, 1910 Postcard

Ulsoor Lake in the Early 20th Century, Bangalore, 1910 Postcard

Bangalore Postcards, Old India Postcards

Ulsoor Lake in the Early 20th Century, Bangalore, 1910 Postcard A 1910 postcard of the Ulsoor Lake in Bangalore (Bengaluru) ....read more

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Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” Oleograph 1894

past-india.com

This site illustrates a past India through a collection of antique and vintage mediums of Raja Ravi Varma oleographs, old India photos, old postcards, old paper prints, and so on.

Although the collection may or may not be too varied, but generally projects a glimpse to what India looked like in the past. And how it has evolved since then. Few would realize that once there were Trams in Bombay, Madras, Delhi…

That, Madras operated the first electric Tram in India from 1895 up to its closure in 1953. With Calcutta and Bombay starting off with Horse-Drawn Trams, later electrifying them by the early 1900s.

That, in World War II, they camouflaged the Taj Mahal with bamboo scaffoldings. So as to project it as a construction site that perhaps would fool any air attacks from the Germans and Japanese might, although this never happened. All in all, the jewel in this collection is the rare Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” oleograph or chromolithograph of 1894. This was the first oleograph to come out from the then newly opened Raja Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithograph Press(or FAL press) in 1894.

The many legacies of the British Raj are not missed out in this collection. Many of the buildings and streets have gone through several makeovers to the extent of being unrecognizable today or have completely disappeared from the scene. But the memories are kept alive hopefully to some extent by this collection.

As they say- “seeing is believing.” Hope you enjoy this collection. Please write to us at- info@past-india.com

Popular & Rare

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Past India

You can see the main categories on the top of the page, and except for the “Raja Ravi Varma Oleograph & Other Art” category all the other main categories have drop-down to sub-categories. You can then select the subject of your interest or you can check through the search box and if available it will display the results. The photos, prints & picture postcards depict a varied subjects of a Past India we may have forgotten- from people on the streets to people at grand events like Delhi durbar, from Taj Mahal to Gateway of India, from residential areas to commercial areas, from home exterior to interior of homes and so on. This site also includes a photo of "Charlie Chaplin" with his autograph signed on the back. There are also old maps, books, Raja Ravi Varma’s oelographs etc. “A picture is worth a thousand words” is an old adage, I’m sure this blog should interest you likewise. All the items displayed are from my personal collection unless otherwise specified.

Contact us:

info@past-india.com
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