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Inauguration of India Gate In New Delhi During British Era, 1931a
Inauguration of India Gate In New Delhi During British Era, 1931
Gallery

Inauguration of India Gate In New Delhi During British Era, 1931

Inauguration of India Gate In New Delhi During British Era, 1931

Inauguration of India Gate In New Delhi During The British Era, 1931 Photo A 1931 photograph of the inauguration of ....read more

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devmaster2025-09-02T14:21:10+05:30
St Mary’s Church View from Commercial Street Bangalore, 1900a
St Mary’s Church View from Commercial Street Bangalore, 1900
Gallery

St Mary’s Church View from Commercial Street Bangalore, 1900

St Mary’s Church View from Commercial Street Bangalore, 1900

St. Mary’s Church View from Commercial Street In Bangalore, 1900 Photo A 1900 photograph shows St Mary's Church, now St ....read more

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devmaster2025-09-13T18:59:17+05:30
Prince Of Wales Museum In The British Era, Bombay, 1920 Photo1
Prince Of Wales Museum In The British Era, Bombay, 1920 Photo
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Prince Of Wales Museum In The British Era, Bombay, 1920 Photo

Prince Of Wales Museum In The British Era, Bombay, 1920 Photo

Prince Of Wales Museum In the British Era, Bombay, 1920 Photo A 1920 photograph of the Prince of Wales Museum ....read more

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devmaster2025-08-21T06:58:36+05:30
Raja Ravi Varma's Vishwamitra-Menaka, Rare 1910 Postcard1
Raja Ravi Varma’s Vishwamitra-Menaka, Rare 1910 Postcard
Gallery

Raja Ravi Varma’s Vishwamitra-Menaka, Rare 1910 Postcard

Raja Ravi Varma’s Vishwamitra-Menaka, Rare 1910 Postcard

Raja Ravi Varma's Vishwamitra-Menaka 1910 Postcard A rare 1910 Raja Ravi Varma "Vishwamitra-Menaka" postcard, printed by Joshi Bros. The image ....read more

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devmaster2025-08-17T07:15:44+05:30
European Lady Cycling On South Parade Road, Bangalore, 1900 Postcard1
European Lady Cycling On South Parade Road Bangalore, 1900
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European Lady Cycling On South Parade Road Bangalore, 1900

European Lady Cycling On South Parade Road Bangalore, 1900

European Lady Cycling On South Parade Road, Bangalore, 1900 Postcard A rare 1900 postcard shows a European lady cycling on ....read more

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devmaster2025-08-08T20:07:12+05:30
Bandora Point, now Bandra In British Era Bombay, 1900 Postcard1
Bandora Point, now Bandra In British Era Bombay, 1900 Postcard
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Bandora Point, now Bandra In British Era Bombay, 1900 Postcard

Bandora Point, now Bandra In British Era Bombay, 1900 Postcard

Bandora Point, now Bandra In British Era Bombay, 1900 Postcard A rare view of Bandora Point, now Bandra, during the ....read more

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devmaster2025-08-06T17:56:16+05:30
The Statue That Gave Elephanta Caves Its Name, 1920 Photo1
The Statue That Gave Elephanta Caves Its Name, 1920 Photo
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The Statue That Gave Elephanta Caves Its Name, 1920 Photo

The Statue That Gave Elephanta Caves Its Name, 1920 Photo

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devmaster2025-10-19T11:06:31+05:30
Taj Mahal Overgrown With Vegetation C19th Agra, 2 Photos 1860a
When The Taj Mahal’s Garden Was A Forest In 19th Cent. 2 Photos
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When The Taj Mahal’s Garden Was A Forest In 19th Cent. 2 Photos

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devmaster2025-11-19T09:19:46+05:30
Aerial View Of Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, 1935 Photo1
Aerial View Of Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, 1935 Photo
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Aerial View Of Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, 1935 Photo

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devmaster2025-06-23T16:40:43+05:30
View of Calcutta From The Garden Reach, 1812 Aquatint1
View of Calcutta From The Garden Reach, 1812 Aquatint
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View of Calcutta From The Garden Reach, 1812 Aquatint

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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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