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···3435363738···125126Next
devmaster2025-08-24T07:29:29+05:30
Gateway of India's Construction in Bombay, 1922 Photo1
Gateway of India’s Construction in Bombay, 1922 Photo
Gallery

Gateway of India’s Construction in Bombay, 1922 Photo

Gateway of India’s Construction in Bombay, 1922 Photo

Gateway of India's Construction in Bombay, 1922 Photo A rare 1922 glass slide photograph shows the construction of the Gateway ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2023-06-05T05:18:24+05:30
England To India Telephone Service Inauguration, 1933
England To India Telephone Service Inauguration, 1933
Gallery

England To India Telephone Service Inauguration, 1933

England To India Telephone Service Inauguration, 1933

England To India Telephone Service Inauguration, 1933 An old 1933 cigarette card showing the inauguration of England to India telephone ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-03-01T04:38:42+05:30
Central Hall of Indian Parliament House Delhi, 1925 Print
Central Hall of Indian Parliament House Delhi, 1925 Print
Gallery

Central Hall of Indian Parliament House Delhi, 1925 Print

Central Hall of Indian Parliament House Delhi, 1925 Print

Central Hall of Indian Parliament House Delhi, 1925 Print A 1925 print showing the central hall of the old Indian ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-01-17T19:29:17+05:30
Origin Of The British East India Company, 1903 Print 
Origin Of The British East India Company, 1903 Print 
Gallery

Origin Of The British East India Company, 1903 Print 

Origin Of The British East India Company, 1903 Print 

Origin Of The British East India Company, 1903 Print An old 1903 print shows an agent of the British India ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-08-24T20:16:20+05:30
Delhi's Qutub Minar Showing The Basement Storey, 1880 Photo1
Delhi’s Qutub Minar Showing The Basement Storey, 1880 Photo
Gallery

Delhi’s Qutub Minar Showing The Basement Storey, 1880 Photo

Delhi’s Qutub Minar Showing The Basement Storey, 1880 Photo

Delhi's Qutub Minar Showing The Basement Storey, 1880 Photo This rare 1880 photograph shows the massive basement storey of the ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-11-05T05:46:56+05:30
Pensive Lady British India Era, 1837 Watercolour Painting
Pensive Lady British India Era, 1837 Watercolour Painting
Gallery

Pensive Lady British India Era, 1837 Watercolour Painting

Pensive Lady British India Era, 1837 Watercolour Painting

Pensive Lady British India Era, 1837 Watercolour Painting An 1837 watercolour painting of a pensive European Lady in the British ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2023-10-27T03:46:42+05:30
Old Map of Madras Harbour In British Era 1884
Old Map of Madras Harbour In British Era 1884
Gallery

Old Map of Madras Harbour In British Era 1884

Old Map of Madras Harbour In British Era 1884

Old Map of Madras Harbour In British Era 1884 An old and rare map of Madras Harbour in the British ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-01-20T08:52:51+05:30
Views of BMC & Victoria Terminus Bombay – 6 Postcards
Views of BMC & Victoria Terminus Bombay – 6 Postcards
Gallery

Views of BMC & Victoria Terminus Bombay – 6 Postcards

Views of BMC & Victoria Terminus Bombay – 6 Postcards

Views of BMC & Victoria Terminus Bombay - 6 Postcards Six old postcards with views of BMC & Victoria Terminus ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-08-26T07:01:50+05:30
Frere The Man Who Transformed Bombay, 1870 Photo
Bartle Frere The Man Who Transformed Bombay, 1870 Photo
Gallery

Bartle Frere The Man Who Transformed Bombay, 1870 Photo

Bartle Frere The Man Who Transformed Bombay, 1870 Photo

Bartle Frere The Man Who Transformed Bombay, 1870 Photo A 1870 cdv photograph of Bartle Frere, the man who transformed ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-01-06T08:55:12+05:30
cochin port
Panoramic View of Cochin Port, 1948 Postcard
Gallery

Panoramic View of Cochin Port, 1948 Postcard

Panoramic View of Cochin Port, 1948 Postcard

Panoramic View of Cochin Port, 1948 Postcard An old 1948 photo postcard with a panoramic view of Cochin Harbour and ....read more

Learn More
Previous12···3435363738···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