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Homenb-develop-admin2026-07-18T17:43:18+05:30
nb-develop-admin2026-08-20T07:03:44+05:30
M G Road Bangalore: Spencer’s & Crystal Picture Palace In 1907
M G Road Bangalore: Spencer’s & Crystal Picture Palace In 1907
Gallery

M G Road Bangalore: Spencer’s & Crystal Picture Palace In 1907

M G Road Bangalore: Spencer’s & Crystal Picture Palace In 1907

Bangalore Postcards, Old India Postcards

M G Road Bangalore: Spencer’s & Crystal Picture Palace In 1907 This charming postcard from 1907 features South Parade Road, [...]

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nb-develop-admin2026-08-15T05:43:12+05:30
Farewell ceremony with troops at the Gateway of India, Bombay, 1925 postcard
Farewell Ceremony at Gateway of India, Bombay, 1925 Postcard
Gallery

Farewell Ceremony at Gateway of India, Bombay, 1925 Postcard

Farewell Ceremony at Gateway of India, Bombay, 1925 Postcard

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Farewell Ceremony at Gateway of India, Bombay, 1925 Postcard A striking 1925 postcard captures a grand military ceremony at the [...]

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nb-develop-admin2026-08-14T10:03:01+05:30
Rajibai Mulgaonkar posing at Raja Ravi Varma’s studio in Bombay
Rajibai Mulgaonkar: Model Behind Ravi Varma’s Paintings, 1900
Gallery

Rajibai Mulgaonkar: Model Behind Ravi Varma’s Paintings, 1900

Rajibai Mulgaonkar: Model Behind Ravi Varma’s Paintings, 1900

Art & Raja Ravi Varma Collection

Rajibai Mulgaonkar: The Model Behind Ravi Varma’s Paintings, 1900 Postcard Among the many women who appeared in the paintings of [...]

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nb-develop-admin2026-08-10T04:21:18+05:30
Oldest known 1870 photograph of Mount Everest captured by British photographer John Edward Sache, showing a faint Himalayan mountain range.
The Earliest Known Photograph of Mount Everest, 1870 Photo
Gallery

The Earliest Known Photograph of Mount Everest, 1870 Photo

The Earliest Known Photograph of Mount Everest, 1870 Photo

Old India Photos, Other India Photos

The Earliest Known Photograph of Mount Everest, 1870 Photo An extraordinarily rare 1870 photograph, probably the oldest known photo of [...]

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nb-develop-admin2026-08-09T11:42:15+05:30
1939 postcard of South Parade Road Bangalore showing Plaza Theatre, Higginbotham’s and Funnell’s
1939 Bangalore’s South Parade: Plaza Theater, Higginbotham’s
Gallery

1939 Bangalore’s South Parade: Plaza Theater, Higginbotham’s

1939 Bangalore’s South Parade: Plaza Theater, Higginbotham’s

Bangalore Photos, Old India Photos

1939 Bangalore’s South Parade: Plaza Theater, Higginbotham’s A rare 1939 photograph of South Parade Road in British-era Bangalore (Bengaluru). It [...]

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nb-develop-admin2026-08-07T15:30:27+05:30
1926 panoramic view of Bombay's coastline from the harbour showing the Taj Mahal Hotel, Ballard Pier, and the colonial skyline.
Sweeping View Of The Bombay Coastline From The Harbour, 1926
Gallery

Sweeping View Of The Bombay Coastline From The Harbour, 1926

Sweeping View Of The Bombay Coastline From The Harbour, 1926

Bombay Photos, Old India Photos

Sweeping View Of The Bombay Coastline From The Harbour, 1926 Photo This small, rare 1926 photograph captures a sweeping view [...]

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nb-develop-admin2026-08-06T11:29:23+05:30
1834 engraving of a Bhandari climbing a coconut tree to collect toddy in old Bombay based on James Forbes' 1768 drawing.
Climbing The Coconut Tree To Draw Toddy In Old Bombay, 1834
Gallery

Climbing The Coconut Tree To Draw Toddy In Old Bombay, 1834

Climbing The Coconut Tree To Draw Toddy In Old Bombay, 1834

Bombay Prints, Old India Prints

Climbing The Coconut Tree To Draw Toddy In Old Bombay, 1834 Print Long before Bombay was developed, the landscape of [...]

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nb-develop-admin2026-08-04T20:13:05+05:30
Rare 1812 engraved print of Dutch-era Cochin (Kochi), Kerala, showing the fortified harbour and colonial settlement on the Malabar Coast.
Fort Cochin On The Malabar Coast During Dutch Era, 1812 Print
Gallery

Fort Cochin On The Malabar Coast During Dutch Era, 1812 Print

Fort Cochin On The Malabar Coast During Dutch Era, 1812 Print

Maps & Plans, More

Fort Cochin On The Malabar Coast During The Dutch Era, 1812 Print This appealing 1812 print of Fort Cochin (Kochi) [...]

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nb-develop-admin2026-08-04T02:54:29+05:30
1900 postcard of Bronson's West End Hotel on Race Course Road in colonial Bangalore, now the Taj West End Bengaluru.
Bronson’s West End Hotel’s Detached Block Bangalore, 1906 PC
Gallery

Bronson’s West End Hotel’s Detached Block Bangalore, 1906 PC

Bronson’s West End Hotel’s Detached Block Bangalore, 1906 PC

Bangalore Postcards, Old India Postcards

Bronson’s West End Hotel's Detached Block, Bangalore, 1906 Postcard A 1906 postcard of Bronson's West End Hotel's detached block. It [...]

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nb-develop-admin2026-08-02T03:41:43+05:30
Architectural illustration of the Churchgate Railway Office, Bombay, 1896, showing building design and ground-floor plan during British India
Churchgate Railway Office Bombay, 1896 Architectural Print 
Gallery

Churchgate Railway Office Bombay, 1896 Architectural Print 

Churchgate Railway Office Bombay, 1896 Architectural Print 

India Railway, More

Churchgate Railway Office Bombay, 1896 Architectural Print  A rare 1896 architectural print of the Churchgate Railway Office in colonial Bombay [...]

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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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