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Homedevmaster2024-04-27T10:47:08+05:30
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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devmaster2026-07-14T06:17:08+05:30
1924 vintage postcard showing the Bangalore Race Course during the British era with horses, spectators, tents and the colonial racecourse grounds.
Bangalore Race Course During the British Era, 1916 Postcard
Gallery

Bangalore Race Course During the British Era, 1916 Postcard

Bangalore Race Course During the British Era, 1916 Postcard

Bangalore Postcards, Old India Postcards

Bangalore Race Course During the British Era, 1916 Postcard A 1916 postcard captures the Bangalore Race Course during the British ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-14T03:50:55+05:30
Historic map showing Vasco da Gama's 1497–1499 sea route from Portugal to Calicut, India, via the Cape of Good Hope and the East African coast.
Vasco da Gama’s Pepper Trail To Calicut, 1900 Map
Gallery

Vasco da Gama’s Pepper Trail To Calicut, 1900 Map

Vasco da Gama’s Pepper Trail To Calicut, 1900 Map

Maps & Plans, More

Vasco da Gama's Pepper Trail To Calicut, The Voyage That Changed The World, 1900 Map A 1900 map of Vasco da ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-14T00:46:22+05:30
Historic view of Russell Market, Bangalore, showing the British-era colonial market building with its distinctive architecture and clock tower.
Russell Market, An Iconic British-Era Landmark in Bangalore, 1940
Gallery

Russell Market, An Iconic British-Era Landmark in Bangalore, 1940

Russell Market, An Iconic British-Era Landmark in Bangalore, 1940

Bangalore Photos, Old India Photos

Russell Market, An Iconic British-Era Landmark in Bangalore, 1940 Photo A 1940 photograph of the Russell Market, an iconic British-era ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-12T23:38:50+05:30
Rare vintage postcard of Madras Central Station beside the Buckingham Canal in British-era Madras (Chennai).
Madras Central Station Beside the Buckingham Canal, 1900 Photo
Gallery

Madras Central Station Beside the Buckingham Canal, 1900 Photo

Madras Central Station Beside the Buckingham Canal, 1900 Photo

India Railway, More

Madras Central Station Beside the Buckingham Canal, 1900 Photo A 1900 photograph with a view of the Madras Central Railway ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-12T06:46:20+05:30
"Rare 1910s photograph of Bangalore's Cenotaph War Memorial opposite Hudson Memorial Church, with bullock carts, pedestrians and colonial streets during the British era in Bengaluru."
Memorial To The Anglo-Mysore War Soldiers In Bangalore, 1910
Gallery

Memorial To The Anglo-Mysore War Soldiers In Bangalore, 1910

Memorial To The Anglo-Mysore War Soldiers In Bangalore, 1910

Bangalore Photos, Old India Photos

Forgotten Memorial To The Anglo-Mysore War Soldiers In Bangalore, 1910 Photo A rare 1910 photo features a forgotten memorial in ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-11T22:32:35+05:30
Rare 1900 postcard of the historic Bowring Institute on St. Mark's Road in Bangalore during the British era.
Bowring Institute British Era Club Bangalore, 1900 Postcard
Gallery

Bowring Institute British Era Club Bangalore, 1900 Postcard

Bowring Institute British Era Club Bangalore, 1900 Postcard

Bangalore Postcards, Old India Postcards

Bowring Institute British Era Heritage Club Bangalore, 1900 Postcard A 1900 postcard captures the elegant Bowring Institute, a British-era heritage ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-11T13:37:25+05:30
Rare 1930s vintage postcard showing Apollo Bunder with Bombay Harbour and Ballard Pier in the distance, Bombay (Mumbai), India.
Historic Apollo Bunder and Ballard Pier Bombay, 1920 Postcard
Gallery

Historic Apollo Bunder and Ballard Pier Bombay, 1920 Postcard

Historic Apollo Bunder and Ballard Pier Bombay, 1920 Postcard

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Historic Apollo Bunder and Ballard Pier Bombay, 1920 Postcard A 1930 postcard of Apollo Bunder and Ballard Pier in Bombay ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-10T20:20:13+05:30
Three vintage postcards of Cubbon Park, Bangalore, showing the park avenue, old Secretariat Buildings, and the Maharaja's statue during the British era.
Views Of Cubbon Park, Secretariat & Statue Bangalore, 3 PCs1900
Gallery

Views Of Cubbon Park, Secretariat & Statue Bangalore, 3 PCs1900

Views Of Cubbon Park, Secretariat & Statue Bangalore, 3 PCs1900

Bangalore Postcards, Old India Postcards

Views Of Cubbon Park, Secretariat & Statue In Bangalore, 3 Postcards 1900 Views from three vintage 1900 postcards of Cubbon ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-10T04:35:31+05:30
Historic Officer's Mess House inside Fort St. George, Madras (Chennai), photographed during the British colonial era with the Madras Lighthouse visible in the distance.
Officers Mess, Cannons & Rail, Fort St George Madras, 1885
Gallery

Officers Mess, Cannons & Rail, Fort St George Madras, 1885

Officers Mess, Cannons & Rail, Fort St George Madras, 1885

Madras Photos, Old India Photos

Officers Mess, Cannons & Rail Trolley Inside Fort St George Madras, 1885 Photo An 1885 photograph shows the officer mess, ....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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