Skip to content
Past-India Logo Past-India Logo Past-India Logo
About Past-India
  • Home
  • Art & Raja Ravi Varma Collection
  • Old India Photos
    • Bangalore Photos
    • Bombay Photos
    • Calcutta Photos
    • Delhi Photos
    • Madras Photos
    • Miscellaneous Photos
    • Other India photos
  • Old India Postcards
    • Bombay Postcards
    • Madras Postcards
    • Calcutta Postcards
    • Banglore Postcards
    • Cochin / Kerala Postcards
    • Other India Postcards
    • Miscellaneous Postcards
  • Old India Prints
    • Bombay Prints
    • Other India Prints
    • Miscellaneous Prints
  • More
    • India Railway
    • Vintage Motoring
    • Maps & Plans
    • Books & Publications
Homedevmaster2024-04-27T10:47:08+05:30
Previous12···3233343536···125126Next
devmaster2025-08-15T12:47:02+05:30
British Troops In Nizam's Hyderabad, Old Photo 1900
Photo Session of British Troops In Nizam’s Hyderabad, 1900 Photo
Gallery

Photo Session of British Troops In Nizam’s Hyderabad, 1900 Photo

Photo Session of British Troops In Nizam’s Hyderabad, 1900 Photo

Photo Session of British Troops In Nizam's Hyderabad, 1900 Photo This 1900 photograph captures a photo session in progress featuring ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-01-10T05:20:12+05:30
Royal Train For Prince of Wales India Tour, 1905 Print
Royal Train For Prince of Wales India Tour, 1905 Print
Gallery

Royal Train For Prince of Wales India Tour, 1905 Print

Royal Train For Prince of Wales India Tour, 1905 Print

Royal Train For Prince of Wales India Tour, 1905 Print. Pages from the Engineering give details of the Royal Train ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-08-16T01:06:43+05:30
Early Indian Aviation Monoplane In Calcutta – 2 Photos 1913
Early Indian Aviation, Monoplane In Calcutta, 2 Photos 1913
Gallery

Early Indian Aviation, Monoplane In Calcutta, 2 Photos 1913

Early Indian Aviation, Monoplane In Calcutta, 2 Photos 1913

Early Indian Aviation Monoplane In Calcutta - 2 Photos 1913 Two rare 1913 photographs capture an early French monoplane at ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-06-03T18:00:34+05:30
First Line Beach Area From The Pier Madras, 2 Postcards 1900
First Line Beach Area From The Pier Madras, 2 Postcards 1900
Gallery

First Line Beach Area From The Pier Madras, 2 Postcards 1900

First Line Beach Area From The Pier Madras, 2 Postcards 1900

First Line Beach Area From The Pier Madras, 2 Postcards 1900.   Two 1900 postcards with a view of the ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-10-01T16:54:13+05:30
Three Views Of British Era Bombay - 4 Postcards 1900
Three Views Of British Era Bombay – 3 Postcards 1900
Gallery

Three Views Of British Era Bombay – 3 Postcards 1900

Three Views Of British Era Bombay – 3 Postcards 1900

Three Views Of British Era Bombay - 3 Postcards 1900   Three old photo postcard views of British Era Bombay, ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2023-06-20T17:14:03+05:30
1985 Book - The Letters of Edwin Lutyens
1985 Book – The Letters of Edwin Lutyens
Gallery

1985 Book – The Letters of Edwin Lutyens

1985 Book – The Letters of Edwin Lutyens

1985 Book - The Letters of Edwin Lutyens Title - The letters of Edwin Lutyens To His wife Lady Emily ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-08-18T19:13:44+05:30
Making of Bombay's Famous Marine Drive, 1923 Photo
Construction Of Marine Drive In Bombay, 1923 Photo
Gallery

Construction Of Marine Drive In Bombay, 1923 Photo

Construction Of Marine Drive In Bombay, 1923 Photo

Construction Of Marine Drive In Bombay, 1923 Photo A rare 1923 photograph captures the construction of Bombay’s (Mumbai) iconic Marine ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-08-19T16:32:28+05:30
Rare View of Delhi Electric Tram, Old Photo 1950
Rare View of Electric Tram In Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, 1950 Photo
Gallery

Rare View of Electric Tram In Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, 1950 Photo

Rare View of Electric Tram In Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, 1950 Photo

Rare View of Electric Tram In Delhi's Chandni Chowk, 1950 Photo A 1950 photo captures a rare view of an ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2023-11-10T11:47:37+05:30
Calcutta To London Flight By Flying Boat, 1946 Print
Calcutta To London Flight By Flying Boat, 1946 Print
Gallery

Calcutta To London Flight By Flying Boat, 1946 Print

Calcutta To London Flight By Flying Boat, 1946 Print

Calcutta To London Flight By Flying Boat, 1946 Print Clipping from a 1946 magazine of a flying boat that completed ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-05-08T17:36:26+05:30
Overland Route To India Before Opening Of The Suez Canal, 1851 Map.
Overland Route To India Before Opening of Suez Canal, 1851 Map
Gallery

Overland Route To India Before Opening of Suez Canal, 1851 Map

Overland Route To India Before Opening of Suez Canal, 1851 Map

Overland Route To India Before Opening Of The Suez Canal, 1851 Map. A rare 1851 map showing the overland route ....read more

Learn More
Previous12···3233343536···125126Next

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

php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php

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
DMCA.com Protection Status
© Copyright | Past-India by Nubes Technologies | All Rights Reserved
Facebook