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Homedevmaster2024-04-27T10:47:08+05:30
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European Lady Viewing Bombay From Malabar Hill, 1900 Photo1
European Lady Viewing Bombay From Malabar Hill, 1900 Photo
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European Lady Viewing Bombay From Malabar Hill, 1900 Photo

European Lady Viewing Bombay From Malabar Hill, 1900 Photo

A European Lady Views Bombay From Malabar Hill, 1900 Photo An interesting 1900 photo of a European lady wearing a ....read more

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devmaster2025-05-15T04:10:31+05:30
 1752 Antique Map of Bombay And Its Environs By Jacques-Nicolas Bellin1
 1752 Antique Map of Bombay And Its Environs By Jacques Bellin
Gallery

 1752 Antique Map of Bombay And Its Environs By Jacques Bellin

 1752 Antique Map of Bombay And Its Environs By Jacques Bellin

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devmaster2025-05-12T11:37:49+05:30
Bronson's West End Hotel Colonial Bangalore, 1900 Postcard1
Bronson’s West End Hotel Colonial Bangalore, 1900 Postcard
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Bronson’s West End Hotel Colonial Bangalore, 1900 Postcard

Bronson’s West End Hotel Colonial Bangalore, 1900 Postcard

Bronson's West End Hotel Colonial Bangalore, 1900 Postcard A 1900 photo postcard of Bronson's West End Hotel in colonial Bangalore ....read more

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devmaster2025-06-15T14:07:45+05:30
Aden Under The Bombay Presidency In British Era, 1870 Photo1
Aden Was Under Bombay Presidency In British India Era, 1870
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Aden Was Under Bombay Presidency In British India Era, 1870

Aden Was Under Bombay Presidency In British India Era, 1870

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devmaster2025-07-02T10:57:55+05:30
View Of A Dilapidated Qutub Minar Delhi In 19C, 1810 Print1
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The Qutub Minar In Ruins In The 19th Century, Delhi, 1810 Print

The Qutub Minar In Ruins In The 19th Century, Delhi, 1810 Print

The Qutub Minar In Ruins In The 19th Century, Delhi, 1810 Print A rare 1810 engraving shows the Qutub Minar in ....read more

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devmaster2025-05-21T23:55:40+05:30
Description of Bombay By An American Newspaper In 1818a
Description of Bombay By An American Newspaper In 1818
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Description of Bombay By An American Newspaper In 1818

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devmaster2025-05-21T23:58:07+05:30
Vintage Postcards From The Ravi Varma Press Karla, 10 PCs 1904a
Vintage Postcards From The Ravi Varma Press Karla, 10 PCs 1904
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Vintage Postcards From The Ravi Varma Press Karla, 10 PCs 1904

Vintage Postcards From The Ravi Varma Press Karla, 10 PCs 1904

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devmaster2025-05-03T21:33:07+05:30
Ulsoor Lake In The Late 19th Century, Bangalore, 1900 Postcard1
Ulsoor Lake In Late 19th Century, Bangalore, 1890 Postcard
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Ulsoor Lake In Late 19th Century, Bangalore, 1890 Postcard

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Beautiful Chowringhee Road In Colonial Era Calcutta, 1930 Photo1
Beautiful Chowringhee Road Colonial Era Calcutta, 1930 Photo
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Beautiful Chowringhee Road Colonial Era Calcutta, 1930 Photo

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Beautiful Chowringhee Road Colonial Era Calcutta, 1930 Photo A 1930 photo shows a beautiful Chowringhee Road in Colonial-Era Calcutta (Kolkata). ....read more

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devmaster2025-04-14T03:24:08+05:30
Nizam's Hyderabad The Third Dominion, 1947 Map1
Nizam’s Hyderabad The Third Dominion, 1947 Map
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Nizam’s Hyderabad The Third Dominion, 1947 Map

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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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