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Homedevmaster2024-04-27T10:47:08+05:30
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devmaster2024-02-13T12:45:19+05:30
Horse Tram On Esplanade Road Bombay, 1906 PC A very interesting 1906  postcard of Horse Trams on the Esplanade Road in Bombay (Mumbai). This horse tram on Esplanade Road in Bombay offers a rare glimpse of the city from the early 20th century. With horse trams, carts, and people on its streets. The curved building on the left is the Old Oriental Building. The Esplanade Road now Mahatma Gandhi Road looks very appealing in this early 1900s postcard. With its broad street and unhurried crowd, the horse trams seem to add a certain charm. The horse-driven trams were visible up to 1907 on the streets of Bombay, it first started operation in 1874 and was replaced with electric trams in 1907. By 1964 the city's tramway service was sadly discontinued completely for lack of space. The Esplanade Road or Mahatma Gandhi Road cuts across the Flora Fountain intersection. It is one of the earliest thoroughfares of the city, made prominent after the demolition of Fort George's walls in 1862. The postcard has some handwritten text in French on the front.  Also read Once upon a time in Mumbai. Did you know - there were some efforts to revive the city's tramway in around 2017 but the project did not materialize for some reason.  From the collection - 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art Abstract (#14)., View of Madras Harbour & Parry’s, Old Photo 1870., Ruins Of Purana Qila Delhi, Old Print 1909., B B & C I Railway Oil Tanker – Old Photo 1920s. The images are of the actual items from my collection. And Not a photocopy, pirated, reproduced, stock photos, or taken from other sources.
Horse Tram On Esplanade Road Bombay, 1906 PC
Gallery

Horse Tram On Esplanade Road Bombay, 1906 PC

Horse Tram On Esplanade Road Bombay, 1906 PC

Horse Tram On Esplanade Road Bombay, 1906 PC A very interesting 1906  postcard of Horse Trams on the Esplanade Road ....read more

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devmaster2023-06-14T20:28:38+05:30
Views of Taj Mahal Hotel Bombay, 3 Postcards 1910
Views of Taj Mahal Hotel Bombay, 3 Postcards 1910
Gallery

Views of Taj Mahal Hotel Bombay, 3 Postcards 1910

Views of Taj Mahal Hotel Bombay, 3 Postcards 1910

Views of Taj Mahal Hotel Bombay, 3 Old Postcards 1910. Three old 1910 photo postcards showing different views of the ....read more

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devmaster2025-08-20T22:37:43+05:30
King George V & Queen Mary At Calcutta - 3 Photos 1912
King George V & Queen Mary Arrive In Calcutta, 3 Photos 1912
Gallery

King George V & Queen Mary Arrive In Calcutta, 3 Photos 1912

King George V & Queen Mary Arrive In Calcutta, 3 Photos 1912

King George V & Queen Mary Arrive In Calcutta, 3 Photos 1912 Three rare 1912 photographs capture the historic anticipation ....read more

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devmaster2025-08-22T22:16:56+05:30
Royal Bombay Yacht Club, In The British Era, Bombay, 1915 Photo1
Royal Bombay Yacht Club, In The British Era, Bombay, 1915 Photo
Gallery

Royal Bombay Yacht Club, In The British Era, Bombay, 1915 Photo

Royal Bombay Yacht Club, In The British Era, Bombay, 1915 Photo

Royal Bombay Yacht Club, In the British Era, Bombay, 1915 Photo A rare 1915 photograph of the Royal Bombay Yacht ....read more

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devmaster2023-06-11T19:19:05+05:30
Raja Ravi Varma By E M J Venniyoor, Book
Raja Ravi Varma By E M J Venniyoor, Book
Gallery

Raja Ravi Varma By E M J Venniyoor, Book

Raja Ravi Varma By E M J Venniyoor, Book

Raja Ravi Varma By E M J Venniyoor, Book Title – Raja Ravi Varma. Author – E  M J Venniyoor ....read more

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devmaster2023-07-05T04:47:33+05:30
Founding of Fort St George Madras, 1903 Print
Founding of Fort St George Madras, 1903 Print
Gallery

Founding of Fort St George Madras, 1903 Print

Founding of Fort St George Madras, 1903 Print

Founding of Fort St George Madras, 1903 Print An old 1903 print of The Origin Of Madras: Founding Of Fort ....read more

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devmaster2024-02-29T20:16:14+05:30
Viceroy's Flight From Delhi To Calcutta, 1934 Print
Early Aviation Viceroy’s Flight From Delhi To Calcutta, 1934 Print
Gallery

Early Aviation Viceroy’s Flight From Delhi To Calcutta, 1934 Print

Early Aviation Viceroy’s Flight From Delhi To Calcutta, 1934 Print

Early Aviation Viceroy's Flight From Delhi To Calcutta, 1934 Print. An unusual old newspaper clip of early aviation, Viceroy Lord ....read more

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devmaster2025-06-26T09:23:40+05:30
Early Car & Britishers Madras Presidency, 1908 Photo
Europeans & Early Motor Cars In Madras Presidency, 1908 Photo
Gallery

Europeans & Early Motor Cars In Madras Presidency, 1908 Photo

Europeans & Early Motor Cars In Madras Presidency, 1908 Photo

Europeans & Early Motor Cars In Madras Presidency, 1908 Photo Two old 1908 photos give a rare glimpse of Europeans ....read more

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devmaster2025-08-23T05:57:09+05:30
Warplanes Over Bombay Sky WWII, 2 Photos 1940
Warplanes Over British Era Bombay In WWII, 2 Photos 1940
Gallery

Warplanes Over British Era Bombay In WWII, 2 Photos 1940

Warplanes Over British Era Bombay In WWII, 2 Photos 1940

Warplanes Over British Era Bombay In WWII, 2 Photos 1940 Two rare 1940 photographs of British-era Bombay (Mumbai) during World ....read more

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devmaster2025-08-24T06:58:34+05:30
south parade road bangalore
South Parade Road In Bangalore During The British Era, 1895
Gallery

South Parade Road In Bangalore During The British Era, 1895

South Parade Road In Bangalore During The British Era, 1895

South Parade Road In Bangalore During The British Era, 1895 Photo A rare 1895 photograph shows South Parade Road in Bangalore ....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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