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···4041424344···125126Next
devmaster2025-09-10T19:52:32+05:30
View of GPO & North Beach Road From Madras Harbour, 1890 a
View of GPO & North Beach Road From Madras Harbour, 1890
Gallery

View of GPO & North Beach Road From Madras Harbour, 1890

View of GPO & North Beach Road From Madras Harbour, 1890

View of GPO & North Beach Road From Madras Harbour, 1890 Photo This 1890 photograph captures a striking view of ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-09-12T11:53:27+05:30
British Flag Flying Over Viceroy's House Delhi,1931 Photo
British Viceroy’s House, Now Rashtrapati Bhavan New Delhi,1931
Gallery

British Viceroy’s House, Now Rashtrapati Bhavan New Delhi,1931

British Viceroy’s House, Now Rashtrapati Bhavan New Delhi,1931

British Viceroy's House, Now Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi,1931 Photo This 1931 photograph captures a rare moment, the British Union Jack flying proudly over ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-09-13T07:13:45+05:30
Newly Completed Taj Mahal Hotel Bombay, 1903 Photo
The Newly Built Taj Mahal Palace Hotel In Bombay, 1903 Photo
Gallery

The Newly Built Taj Mahal Palace Hotel In Bombay, 1903 Photo

The Newly Built Taj Mahal Palace Hotel In Bombay, 1903 Photo

The Newly Built Taj Mahal Palace Hotel In Bombay, 1903 Photo This rare 1903 photograph captures the newly completed Taj ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2023-03-30T18:50:24+05:30
Madras Beach Station & General Post Office, 1928 PC
Madras Beach Station & General Post Office, 1928 PC
Gallery

Madras Beach Station & General Post Office, 1928 PC

Madras Beach Station & General Post Office, 1928 PC

Madras Beach Station & General Post Office, 1928 PC Old 1928 photo postcard of the Beach Railway Station & General ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-05-21T11:23:34+05:30
View Over British Era Bombay City, Old Photo 1885
Aerial View of Bombay In The British Era, 1855 Photo
Gallery

Aerial View of Bombay In The British Era, 1855 Photo

Aerial View of Bombay In The British Era, 1855 Photo

Aerial View of Bombay In The British Era, 1855 Photo An 1885 photo with an aerial view of Bombay during ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-03-02T18:59:36+05:30
Queen Victoria's Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print
Queen Victoria’s Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print
Gallery

Queen Victoria’s Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print

Queen Victoria’s Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print

Queen Victoria's Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print Old 1877 print of the Delhi Durbar of 1877 to honor Queen Victoria. This ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-02-14T16:02:14+05:30
British Era South Parade Road / M G Road Bangalore, 1905 PC
British Era South Parade Road / M G Road Bangalore, 1905 PC
Gallery

British Era South Parade Road / M G Road Bangalore, 1905 PC

British Era South Parade Road / M G Road Bangalore, 1905 PC

British Era South Parade Road / M G Road Bangalore, 1905 PC. A 1905 oilette postcard of South Parade now ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2023-03-28T08:44:02+05:30
Loop No 1 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, 1910 PC
Loop No 1 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, 1910 PC
Gallery

Loop No 1 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, 1910 PC

Loop No 1 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, 1910 PC

Loop No 1 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, 1910 PC A rare 1910 photo postcard of Loop No 1 of the Darjeeling ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-03-02T23:20:39+05:30
Viceroy's Camp At The Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print
Viceroy’s Camp At The Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print
Gallery

Viceroy’s Camp At The Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print

Viceroy’s Camp At The Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print

Viceroy's Camp At The Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print An old print of the Viceroy's camp at the Delhi Durbar or ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-09-16T22:57:41+05:30
Municipal Corporation Building British Era Bombay, 2 Photos 1935a
Municipal Corporation Building British Era Bombay, 2 Photos 1935
Gallery

Municipal Corporation Building British Era Bombay, 2 Photos 1935

Municipal Corporation Building British Era Bombay, 2 Photos 1935

Municipal Corporation Building, British Era Bombay, 2 Photos 1935 Two photos from 1935 and 1942 depict the Municipal Corporation Building ....read more

Learn More
Previous12···4041424344···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