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Homenb-develop-admin2026-07-18T17:43:18+05:30
pi-blog-author2026-09-12T19:44:21+05:30
Parsi family in Bombay depicted in an 1812 antique print
The Parsis of Bombay: A Rare Glimpse From An 1812 Print
Gallery

The Parsis of Bombay: A Rare Glimpse From An 1812 Print

The Parsis of Bombay: A Rare Glimpse From An 1812 Print

Bombay Prints, Old India Prints

The Parsis of Bombay: A Rare Glimpse From An 1812 Print A fascinating 1812 print of a Parsi family in [...]

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pi-blog-author2026-09-10T17:55:08+05:30
Aerial view of Bombay showing the Prince of Wales Museum, Elphinstone College, Royal Alfred Sailors’ Home and electric trams
Aerial View of Bombay’s Prince of Wales Museum, Trams, 1927 PC
Gallery

Aerial View of Bombay’s Prince of Wales Museum, Trams, 1927 PC

Aerial View of Bombay’s Prince of Wales Museum, Trams, 1927 PC

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Aerial View of Bombay’s Prince of Wales Museum, Trams, 1927 Postcard This beautiful 1927 vintage postcard offers a remarkable aerial [...]

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pi-blog-author2026-09-09T22:45:12+05:30
Fabulous Mogul: Nizam VII of Hyderabad by D. F. Karaka, vintage book cover
Fabulous Mogul Nizam VII of Hyderabad By D F Karaka
Gallery

Fabulous Mogul Nizam VII of Hyderabad By D F Karaka

Fabulous Mogul Nizam VII of Hyderabad By D F Karaka

Books & Publications, More

Fabulous Mogul Nizam VII of Hyderabad By D F Karaka Title: Fabulous Mogul Nizam VII of HyderabadAuthor: D F KarakaPublisher: [...]

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pi-blog-author2026-09-09T00:18:55+05:30
This fascinating 1905 map offers a glimpse of Bombay (Mumbai) as it appeared around 1840, before the extensive land reclamation projects that would dramatically alter the shape of the city. At the time, Bombay was still defined by its original island geography, with waterways, creeks, and tidal areas separating land that would later be joined together.
1900 Map of Bombay Islands Before Major Reclamation, C.1840
Gallery

1900 Map of Bombay Islands Before Major Reclamation, C.1840

1900 Map of Bombay Islands Before Major Reclamation, C.1840

Maps & Plans, More

This fascinating 1905 map offers a glimpse of Bombay (Mumbai) as it appeared around 1840, before the extensive land reclamation [...]

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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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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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