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devmaster2025-07-22T11:54:08+05:30
Beautiful View of Fort Area In 19th Century Bombay, 1880 Photo1
Beautiful View of Fort Area In 19th Century Bombay, 1880 Photo
Gallery

Beautiful View of Fort Area In 19th Century Bombay, 1880 Photo

Beautiful View of Fort Area In 19th Century Bombay, 1880 Photo

Beautiful View of Fort Area In 19th Century Bombay, 1880 Photo A 1880 photo of a beautiful Fort Area in ....read more

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devmaster2025-07-25T04:57:15+05:30
row of public buildings bombay
Bombay Court, Clock Tower & Secretariat Facing Back Bay, 1880
Gallery

Bombay Court, Clock Tower & Secretariat Facing Back Bay, 1880

Bombay Court, Clock Tower & Secretariat Facing Back Bay, 1880

Bombay High Court, Rajabai Clock Tower & Secretariat Facing Back Bay, 1880 Photo A 1880 photograph of Bombay's (Mumbai) iconic ....read more

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devmaster2025-07-25T05:30:58+05:30
Madras Mount Road In Floods During Monsoon, 1900 Photo a
Mount Road In British Era Madras During Monsoon, 1900 Photo 
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Mount Road In British Era Madras During Monsoon, 1900 Photo 

Mount Road In British Era Madras During Monsoon, 1900 Photo 

Mount Road In British Era Madras During The Monsoon, 1900 Photo  A rare 1900 photograph captures Mount Road in British-era ....read more

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devmaster2023-11-13T04:58:56+05:30
kennedy seaface
Views of Kennedy Sea Face / Marine Drive Bombay – 2 PCs 1900
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Views of Kennedy Sea Face / Marine Drive Bombay – 2 PCs 1900

Views of Kennedy Sea Face / Marine Drive Bombay – 2 PCs 1900

Two Views of Kennedy Sea Face / Marine Drive Bombay - 2 PCs 1900 Two views of the Kennedy Sea ....read more

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devmaster2024-06-22T05:52:57+05:30
9 in 1 view bombay
Varied Views Of British Era Bombay City – 4 Postcards 1900
Gallery

Varied Views Of British Era Bombay City – 4 Postcards 1900

Varied Views Of British Era Bombay City – 4 Postcards 1900

Varied Views Of British Era Bombay City - 4 Postcards 1900 Four postcards from around 1900 show varied views of ....read more

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The Once Existing Colaba Railway Station Bombay, 1900 Postcard
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The Once Existing Colaba Railway Station Bombay, 1900 Postcard

The Once Existing Colaba Railway Station Bombay, 1900 Postcard

The Once Existing Colaba Railway Station Bombay, 1900 Postcard An old 1900 postcard of the Colaba Railway Station during British ....read more

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devmaster2025-07-26T06:09:08+05:30
Sweeping View of The Sea & Flagmast From Fort St George, 1880a
Sweeping View of The Sea & Flagmast From Fort St George, 1880
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Sweeping View of The Sea & Flagmast From Fort St George, 1880

Sweeping View of The Sea & Flagmast From Fort St George, 1880

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devmaster2025-07-26T07:58:27+05:30
taj mahal
Colonial Era European Lady At Taj, Fatehpur Sikri, Fort, 8 Photos
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Colonial Era European Lady At Taj, Fatehpur Sikri, Fort, 8 Photos

Colonial Era European Lady At Taj, Fatehpur Sikri, Fort, 8 Photos

Colonial Era European Lady At Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort,  8 Photos 1912   The Taj Mahal ....read more

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devmaster2024-01-03T03:52:38+05:30
proposed expansion of bombay port
Proposed Expansion Of The Bombay Port, 1904 Print
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Proposed Expansion Of The Bombay Port, 1904 Print

Proposed Expansion Of The Bombay Port, 1904 Print

Proposed Expansion Of The Bombay Port, 1904 Print     This rare print on Bombay Port's expansion is a page ....read more

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devmaster2023-11-08T04:58:42+05:30
chepauk palace
The Chepauk Palace Madras, 1900 Postcard
Gallery

The Chepauk Palace Madras, 1900 Postcard

The Chepauk Palace Madras, 1900 Postcard

The Chepauk Palace Madras, 1900 Postcard An old 1900 postcard of the Chepauk Palace in Madras (Chennai). Among the buildings ....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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