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Homedevmaster2024-04-27T10:47:08+05:30
devmaster2026-07-04T13:44:46+05:30
A 1910 postcard showing the English Emporium on South Parade (now MG Road) in British-era Bangalore, featuring elegant colonial architecture and bustling street life.
English Emporium On South Parade Road Bangalore, 1910 PC
Gallery

English Emporium On South Parade Road Bangalore, 1910 PC

English Emporium On South Parade Road Bangalore, 1910 PC

Bangalore Postcards, Old India Postcards

English Emporium On South Parade Road in the British Era, Bangalore, 1910 Postcard A charming 1910 postcard captures the English ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-04T01:54:43+05:30
Historic view of Bombay's General Post Office (GPO), the grand Indo-Saracenic landmark completed in 1913 near Victoria Terminus in British-era Bombay.
Aerial View Of British Era Bombay GPO, 1927 Postcard
Gallery

Aerial View Of British Era Bombay GPO, 1927 Postcard

Aerial View Of British Era Bombay GPO, 1927 Postcard

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Aerial View Of British Era Bombay GPO, 1927 Postcard A 1927 sepia-toned postcard with a captivating aerial view of the ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-03T20:06:18+05:30
Historic view of Government House and Rajaji Hall in British-era Madras, showing the grand colonial estate with its ceremonial entrance from Mount Road.
Government House & Banqueting Hall Madras, 2 Photos 1890
Gallery

Government House & Banqueting Hall Madras, 2 Photos 1890

Government House & Banqueting Hall Madras, 2 Photos 1890

Madras Photos, Old India Photos

British-era Government House & Banquet Hall, Madras, 2 Photos 1890 One of the photographs is from 1890, featuring the British-era ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-03T00:24:57+05:30
Commercial Street & View Of St Mary's Church Bangalore, 1900
Commercial Street & View Of St Mary’s Church Bangalore, 1900
Gallery

Commercial Street & View Of St Mary’s Church Bangalore, 1900

Commercial Street & View Of St Mary’s Church Bangalore, 1900

Bangalore Photos, Old India Photos

Commercial Street & View Of St Mary's Church, Bangalore, 1900 Photo A small 1900 photograph shows Commercial Street and a ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-02T19:57:10+05:30
Qutub Minar and the historic Qutb Complex in Delhi, featuring the iconic medieval minaret and surrounding heritage monuments.
Qutab Minar & Qutb Complex In British Era Delhi, 2 Photos 1910
Gallery

Qutab Minar & Qutb Complex In British Era Delhi, 2 Photos 1910

Qutab Minar & Qutb Complex In British Era Delhi, 2 Photos 1910

Delhi Photos, Old India Photos

Qutab Minar & Qutb Complex In British Era Delhi, 2 Photos 1910 Two 1910 photographs of Qutub Minar and the ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-02T05:24:31+05:30
Historic view of Bombay's Back Bay Reclamation showing newly reclaimed land and residential buildings under development during the 1930s.
Art Deco Apartment Buildings Construction Bombay, 2 Photos 1939
Gallery

Art Deco Apartment Buildings Construction Bombay, 2 Photos 1939

Art Deco Apartment Buildings Construction Bombay, 2 Photos 1939

Bombay Photos, Old India Photos

Art Deco Apartment Buildings Construction Bombay, 2 Photos 1939 Two small 1939 photographs of the Art Deco apartment buildings facing ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-01T17:54:40+05:30
Historic view of the Royal Bombay Yacht Club overlooking Apollo Bunder in British-era Bombay.
Aerial View of Royal Bombay Yacht Club & Annexe, 2 PCs 1927
Gallery

Aerial View of Royal Bombay Yacht Club & Annexe, 2 PCs 1927

Aerial View of Royal Bombay Yacht Club & Annexe, 2 PCs 1927

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Aerial View of Royal Bombay Yacht Club & Annexe, 2 Postcards 1927 Two 1927 postcards show aerial views of the ....read more

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devmaster2026-07-02T16:48:00+05:30
Vintage photograph of Lamington Road in British-era Bombay showing grand colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevard, and early twentieth-century streetscape.
Lamington Road Once Bombay’s Grandest Avenue, 1920s PC
Gallery

Lamington Road Once Bombay’s Grandest Avenue, 1920s PC

Lamington Road Once Bombay’s Grandest Avenue, 1920s PC

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Lamington Road, Once Bombay's Grandest Avenue, 1920s Postcard Long before it earned fame as India's electronics marketplace, Lamington Road was ....read more

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devmaster2026-06-29T15:45:41+05:30
Vintage "See India – Travancore State" postcard depicting a traditional Kerala country boat on tranquil backwaters with coconut palms, colonial buildings, and hills in the background.
Travancore State Backwaters in Rare ‘See India’ Postcard, 1940s
Gallery

Travancore State Backwaters in Rare ‘See India’ Postcard, 1940s

Travancore State Backwaters in Rare ‘See India’ Postcard, 1940s

Cochin & Kerala Postcards, Old India Postcards

Travancore State Backwaters in Rare 'See India' Postcard, 1940s This captivating "See India – Travancore State" vintage postcard is from ....read more

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devmaster2026-06-29T07:32:15+05:30
Rare 1910 Raja Ravi Varma Vishwamitra and Menaka postcard printed by Joshi Bros., Bombay, depicting the birth of Shakuntala from Hindu mythology.
Raja Ravi Varma Vishwamitra & Menaka 1910 Postcard Bombay
Gallery

Raja Ravi Varma Vishwamitra & Menaka 1910 Postcard Bombay

Raja Ravi Varma Vishwamitra & Menaka 1910 Postcard Bombay

Art & Raja Ravi Varma Collection

Rare Raja Ravi Varma Vishwamitra & Menaka 1910 Postcard Bombay A rare 1910 postcard featuring Raja Ravi Varma's celebrated Vishwamitra ....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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