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···4142434445···125126Next
devmaster2024-04-19T06:12:48+05:30
Darjeeling Railway Chunabatti Loop No 3 ,1890 Photo
Darjeeling Railway Chunabatti Loop No 3, 1890 Photo
Gallery

Darjeeling Railway Chunabatti Loop No 3, 1890 Photo

Darjeeling Railway Chunabatti Loop No 3, 1890 Photo

Darjeeling Railway Chunabatti Loop No 3, 1890 Photo An 1890 photo of Chunabatti Loop No 3 at the Darjeeling Himalayan ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-09-19T07:14:39+05:30
Bombay Welcomes King George & Queen Mary, 1911
Bombay Welcomes King George & Queen Mary, 1911 Photo
Gallery

Bombay Welcomes King George & Queen Mary, 1911 Photo

Bombay Welcomes King George & Queen Mary, 1911 Photo

Bombay Welcomes King George & Queen Mary, 1911 Photo A 1911 photograph shows the arrival of King-Emperor George V and ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-09-21T18:36:46+05:30
Delhi Durbar 1877, Queen Victoria Empress of India
c19th 1877 Delhi Durbar Honouring Queen Victoria, 1877 Photo
Gallery

c19th 1877 Delhi Durbar Honouring Queen Victoria, 1877 Photo

c19th 1877 Delhi Durbar Honouring Queen Victoria, 1877 Photo

c19th Delhi Durbar Honouring Queen Victoria, 1877 Photo A rare 1877 panoramic photograph of the Delhi Durbar captures the grand ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-09-24T03:40:35+05:30
Esplanade Road British Era Bombay, Old Photo 1877
Esplanade Road Now Mahatma Gandhi Road Bombay, 1877 Photo
Gallery

Esplanade Road Now Mahatma Gandhi Road Bombay, 1877 Photo

Esplanade Road Now Mahatma Gandhi Road Bombay, 1877 Photo

Esplanade Road Now Mahatma Gandhi Road Bombay, 1877 Photo A 1877 rare photo of Esplanade Road, now known as Mahatma ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-02-14T16:06:31+05:30
World's First Airmail Flight In India, 1911 - 2 Postcards
World’s First Airmail Flight In India, 1911 – 2 Postcards
Gallery

World’s First Airmail Flight In India, 1911 – 2 Postcards

World’s First Airmail Flight In India, 1911 – 2 Postcards

World's First Airmail Flight In India, 1911 - 2 Postcards There are two postcards of the World's First Airmail Flight ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-02-15T07:43:59+05:30
Spencer's British Era Store Madras, 1967 Postcard
Spencer’s British Era Store Madras, 1967 Postcard
Gallery

Spencer’s British Era Store Madras, 1967 Postcard

Spencer’s British Era Store Madras, 1967 Postcard

Spencer's British Era Store Madras, 1967 Postcard A 1967 photo postcard of Spencer's a British-era department store in Madras (Chennai). ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-04-21T22:44:51+05:30
Old Book 1934 – A Guide To Elephanta
Old Book 1934 – A Guide To Elephanta
Gallery

Old Book 1934 – A Guide To Elephanta

Old Book 1934 – A Guide To Elephanta

Old Book 1934 – A Guide To Elephanta. Title – A Guide To Elephanta Author – Hirananda Sastri Publishers – ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-09-26T22:18:17+05:30
past-india.com
Glimpse of Colonial Era Borah Bazar Street Bombay, 1895 Photo
Gallery

Glimpse of Colonial Era Borah Bazar Street Bombay, 1895 Photo

Glimpse of Colonial Era Borah Bazar Street Bombay, 1895 Photo

Glimpse of Colonial Era Borah Bazar Street Bombay, 1895 Photo An 1895 photo of Borah Bazar Street in Bombay (Mumbai). ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-04-19T06:46:05+05:30
Erecting Pamban Railway Bridge British India, 1914
Installation of Pamban Railway Bridge British India Era, 1914 Print
Gallery

Installation of Pamban Railway Bridge British India Era, 1914 Print

Installation of Pamban Railway Bridge British India Era, 1914 Print

Installation of Pamban Railway Bridge British India Era - 2 Prints 1914 Two rare 1914 prints show the installation of ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-02-15T07:47:15+05:30
River Cooum & St George's Bridge Madras, 1900 PC
River Cooum & St George’s Bridge Madras, 1900 PC
Gallery

River Cooum & St George’s Bridge Madras, 1900 PC

River Cooum & St George’s Bridge Madras, 1900 PC

River Cooum & St George's Bridge Madras, 1900 PC An old 1900 photo postcard of the River Cooum and St ....read more

Learn More
Previous12···4142434445···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