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West End Hotel In British Era Bangalore, 1900 Postcard
West End Hotel In British Era Bangalore, 1900 Postcard
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West End Hotel In British Era Bangalore, 1900 Postcard

West End Hotel In British Era Bangalore, 1900 Postcard

West End Hotel In British Era Bangalore, 1900 Postcard A 1900 postcard of the West End Hotel in British Era ....read more

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Town Hall In Simla During British Era, 1890 Postcard
Town Hall In Simla During British Era, 1890 Postcard
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Town Hall In Simla During British Era, 1890 Postcard

Town Hall In Simla During British Era, 1890 Postcard

Town Hall In Simla During British Era, 1890 Postcard A 1900 postcard showing the beautiful town hall in Simla during ....read more

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devmaster2025-11-13T18:15:39+05:30
An 1890 photograph showing Fort St. George in Madras (now Chennai), with its defensive walls, the Esplanade grounds, and the River Cooum in the background.
Fort St George: The Birthplace Of Madras, 1890 Photo
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Fort St George: The Birthplace Of Madras, 1890 Photo

Fort St George: The Birthplace Of Madras, 1890 Photo

Fort St George: The Birthplace Of Madras, 1890 Photo An 1890 photograph captures Fort St George, the iconic stronghold and ....read more

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Beautiful British India Era Oil Painting 1887
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Beautiful British India Era Oil Painting 1887

Beautiful British India Era Oil Painting 1887

Beautiful British India Era Oil Painting 1935 A beautiful oil painting from the British India era of 1887. It depicts ....read more

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devmaster2024-05-03T06:28:43+05:30
The General Post Office Plan British Era Madras, 1881 Print
The General Post Office Plan British Era Madras, 1881 Print
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The General Post Office Plan British Era Madras, 1881 Print

The General Post Office Plan British Era Madras, 1881 Print

The General Post Office Plan British Era Madras, 1881 Print A beautiful 1881 print of the General Post Office (GPO) ....read more

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devmaster2026-01-14T23:23:50+05:30
1940s photograph of Bangalore Opera House at Brigade Road and Residency Road during the British era
British Era Bangalore’s Opera House And Hollywood City, 2 Photos
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British Era Bangalore’s Opera House And Hollywood City, 2 Photos

British Era Bangalore’s Opera House And Hollywood City, 2 Photos

British Era Bangalore’s Opera House And Hollywood City, 2 Photos 1943 Two photographs from 1943 of Bangalore’s Opera House and ....read more

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Historic ghat road to Ooty and Coonoor in the Nilgiri Hills, circa 1900, used by bullock carts and horse-drawn carriages.
Climbing the Nilgiris: The Ooty/Coonoor Ghat Road, 1897 Photo
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Climbing the Nilgiris: The Ooty/Coonoor Ghat Road, 1897 Photo

Climbing the Nilgiris: The Ooty/Coonoor Ghat Road, 1897 Photo

Climbing the Nilgiris: The Ooty/Coonoor Ghat Road, 1897 Photo A 1900 silver print captures the winding ghat road leading to ....read more

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Installing The Nilgiri Mountain Railway's Rack Line, 1898 PC
Installing The Nilgiri Mountain Railway’s Rack Line, 1899 PC
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Installing The Nilgiri Mountain Railway’s Rack Line, 1899 PC

Installing The Nilgiri Mountain Railway’s Rack Line, 1899 PC

Installing The Nilgiri Mountain Railway's Rack Line, 1899 PC An 1898 photo postcard of workers on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway's ....read more

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devmaster2024-04-25T13:03:00+05:30
Nawab of Junagadh At Car Rally From Delhi To Bombay, 1905 Print
Nawab of Junagadh At Car Rally From Delhi To Bombay, 1905 Print
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Nawab of Junagadh At Car Rally From Delhi To Bombay, 1905 Print

Nawab of Junagadh At Car Rally From Delhi To Bombay, 1905 Print

 Nawab of Junagadh At Car Rally From Delhi To Bombay, 1905 Print   A 1905 French newspaper page shows a ....read more

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devmaster2025-01-18T07:20:45+05:30
Three Uncommon Views of British Era Bombay - 3 Postcards 1900a
Three Uncommon Views of Bombay In British Era – 3 PCs 1900
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Three Uncommon Views of Bombay In British Era – 3 PCs 1900

Three Uncommon Views of Bombay In British Era – 3 PCs 1900

Three Uncommon Views of British Era Bombay - 3 Postcards 1900 Three uncommon views of British Era Bombay from three ....read more

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The First Oleograph Published From Raja Ravi Varma Press 1894

Past-India.com

PRESERVING INDIA’S AMAZING PAST

Welcome to Past-India.com, a unique archive that brings India’s history to life through an extraordinary collection of antique and vintage treasures. This curated selection includes Raja Ravi Varma oleographs, vintage art, old photographs, old postcards, historic prints, vintage maps, plans, and books, all connected to the rich heritage of India.

A Journey Through India’s History

Our collection offers a vivid glimpse into what India looked like in the past and how it evolved through the centuries. Few maybe knowing that trams once operated in Bombay (Mumbai), Madras (Chennai), Delhi, and Calcutta (Kolkata). Public transportation in India began with horse-drawn trams, later replaced by electric trams in the early 1900s. Madras was the first city in India to introduce the electric tram. Among our rarest pieces is an 1880 Calcutta Tramways proposed route map for horse-drawn trams.

Rare Historical Treasures

From wartime secrets to technological milestones, our collection spans diverse chapters of Indian history:

  • Taj Mahal Camouflage – During World War II, the Taj Mahal was camouflaged to protect it from possible German and Japanese air attacks.

  • Maritime History – Includes a glass slide of the first steam paddle ship “Enterprise” that sailed from England to India in 1825.

  • Bombay’s Transformation – An 1880 photograph reveals a barren Haji Ali landscape with a semi-forested Worli in the distance.

  • Historic Newspapers – A 1791 London newspaper reporting on the 3rd Anglo-Mysore War and a 1792 edition announcing Tipu Sultan’s defeat.

  • Early Aviation in India – Rare photographs and prints from 1913 to the 1940s.

  • Railway Heritage – A photograph of the first train journey from Bombay to Thana.

The Crown Jewel – Raja Ravi Varma’s First Oleograph

The pride of our archive is Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” (1894), the very first oleograph produced at the Raja Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithograph Press. This masterpiece holds the distinction of being the first oleograph ever printed in India.

Experience History Firsthand

As the saying goes, seeing is believing. We invite you to explore our collection, immerse yourself in India’s remarkable past. The scans displayed are from our collection only.

📩 Contact us: info@past-india.com | bitp.in@gmail.com

Popular & Rare

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Past India

You can scroll down from the home page or go to the main categories shown on the top yellow band with drop downs of sub-categories (the "Art & Raja Ravi Varma Collection" does not have sub-category). Check out each category and subcategory for an interesting collection of art, photos, postcards, prints, maps, books, etc. These depict varied subjects of an amazing Past India that we may have forgotten; from people on the streets to spectacular events like Delhi durbars to farewell ceremony at Apollo Bunder, from Taj Mahal to Gateway of India, from residential to commercial areas, from exterior to interior of homes, glimpses of British and Indians daily life, India's early aviation from 1911 to 1940s, and so on. This site also includes a photo of "Charlie Chaplin" with his autographed sign on the back. Check also Raja Ravi Varma’s portrait photo, oleographs. Ravi Varma's wife's photo, etc. Additionally there are photos, postcards, prints on the Indian railway, vintage motor cars, old maps of India, old books, etc. Just like the saying goes "A picture is worth a thousand words" likewise the case with this site. The scans displayed are only from our personal collection and not from any other source unless otherwise specified.

Contact us:

info@past-india.com
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