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···4546474849···128129Next
devmaster2024-02-15T08:11:56+05:30
Chandni Chowk With Tram British Era Delhi, 1910 Postcard
Chandni Chowk With Tram British Era Delhi, 1910 Postcard
Gallery

Chandni Chowk With Tram British Era Delhi, 1910 Postcard

Chandni Chowk With Tram British Era Delhi, 1910 Postcard

Chandni Chowk With Tram British Era Delhi, 1910 Postcard A rare 1910 postcard of Chandni Chowk with tram in Delhi. ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-09-27T01:59:03+05:30
past-india.com
Rare Old Photos of Madras Electric Trams (1902 & 1930)
Gallery

Rare Old Photos of Madras Electric Trams (1902 & 1930)

Rare Old Photos of Madras Electric Trams (1902 & 1930)

Rare Old Photos of Madras Electric Trams (1902 & 1930) These are two rare old negatives of the Madras Electric ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-09-27T19:30:31+05:30
past-india.com
The Bombay High Court During The British Raj Era, 1880 Photo
Gallery

The Bombay High Court During The British Raj Era, 1880 Photo

The Bombay High Court During The British Raj Era, 1880 Photo

The Bombay High Court During The British Raj Era, 1880 Photo This 1880 photo of the Bombay High Court offers ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-11-13T05:00:39+05:30
“1878 photo of Officers’ Mess House inside Fort St George, Madras, with Fort walls and Madras Lighthouse visible.”
Officers’ Mess House In Fort St George Madras, 1878 Photo
Gallery

Officers’ Mess House In Fort St George Madras, 1878 Photo

Officers’ Mess House In Fort St George Madras, 1878 Photo

Officers' Mess House In Fort St George, Madras, 1878 Photo This rare 1878 photo of the Officers’ Mess House inside ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-06-27T05:53:47+05:30
Imported Motor Cars During The British India Era, 1908 Postcard1
Imported Motor Cars During The British India Era, 1908 Postcard
Gallery

Imported Motor Cars During The British India Era, 1908 Postcard

Imported Motor Cars During The British India Era, 1908 Postcard

The Imported Motor Cars During The British India Era, 1908 Postcard A 1908 photo postcard of an imported motor car ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2023-03-09T19:29:47+05:30
Old Book 1918 - Recollections of Calcutta
Old Book 1918 – Recollections of Calcutta
Gallery

Old Book 1918 – Recollections of Calcutta

Old Book 1918 – Recollections of Calcutta

Old Book 1918 - Recollections of Calcutta For Half A Century. Title - Recollections of Calcutta For Half A Century ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-02-15T11:51:47+05:30
Esplanade Road British Era Madras - 2 Postcards 1945
Esplanade Road British Era Madras – 2 Postcards 1945
Gallery

Esplanade Road British Era Madras – 2 Postcards 1945

Esplanade Road British Era Madras – 2 Postcards 1945

Esplanade Road British Era Madras - 2 Postcards 1945 Two old postcards of the Esplanade Road during British Era Madras ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-06-15T13:12:23+05:30
Bombay Museum Hamburg American Lines World Cruise, 1931 PC
Bombay Museum Hamburg American Lines World Cruise, 1931 PC
Gallery

Bombay Museum Hamburg American Lines World Cruise, 1931 PC

Bombay Museum Hamburg American Lines World Cruise, 1931 PC

Bombay Museum Hamburg American Lines World Cruise, 1931 Postcard A 1931 postcard shows Bombay's Prince of Wales Museum with an ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-02-15T16:03:49+05:30
King George & Queen Mary Parade British Era Calcutta, 1912 PC
King George & Queen Mary Parade British Era Calcutta, 1912 PC
Gallery

King George & Queen Mary Parade British Era Calcutta, 1912 PC

King George & Queen Mary Parade British Era Calcutta, 1912 PC

King George & Queen Mary Parade British Era Calcutta, 1912 PC A 1912 photo postcard of King George & Queen ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-03-08T18:06:42+05:30
Madras Central Station & Railway HQ, 3 PCs 1950s
Madras Central Station & Railway Headquarters, 3 PCs 1950s
Gallery

Madras Central Station & Railway Headquarters, 3 PCs 1950s

Madras Central Station & Railway Headquarters, 3 PCs 1950s

Madras Central Station & Railway Headquarters, 3 Postcards 1950s Three old 1950s photo postcards of the Madras Central Station and ....read more

Learn More
Previous12···4546474849···128129Next

blank

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

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