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Homenb-develop-admin2026-07-18T17:43:18+05:30
nb-develop-admin2024-03-04T16:10:09+05:30
The Stone Elephant Of Elephanta Island Bombay, 1850 Print
The Stone Elephant Of Elephanta Island Bombay, 1850 Print
Gallery

The Stone Elephant Of Elephanta Island Bombay, 1850 Print

The Stone Elephant Of Elephanta Island Bombay, 1850 Print

Bombay Prints, Old India Prints

The Stone Elephant Of Elephanta Island Bombay, 1850 Print A beautiful 1850 print of the stone elephant that once stood [...]

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nb-develop-admin2024-03-04T16:23:30+05:30
Madras Boat Club Annual Regatta During British Era, 1912 Print
Madras Boat Club Annual Regatta During British Era, 1912 Print
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Madras Boat Club Annual Regatta During British Era, 1912 Print

Madras Boat Club Annual Regatta During British Era, 1912 Print

Old India Prints, Other India Prints

Madras Boat Club Annual Regatta During British Era, 1912 Print. A 1912 print shows images of the Madras Boat Club's [...]

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The Inauguration Of New Delhi, 1931 Programme Card
The Inauguration Of New Delhi, 1931 Programme Card
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The Inauguration Of New Delhi, 1931 Programme Card

The Inauguration Of New Delhi, 1931 Programme Card

Old India Prints, Other India Prints

The Inauguration Of New Delhi, 1931 Programme Card A rare 1931 programme card of "The Inauguration of New Delhi". In [...]

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nb-develop-admin2024-02-16T08:27:53+05:30
The Banqueting Hall Madras, 1925 Postcard
The Banqueting Hall Madras, 1925 Postcard
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The Banqueting Hall Madras, 1925 Postcard

The Banqueting Hall Madras, 1925 Postcard

Madras Postcards, Old India Postcards

The Banqueting Hall Madras, 1925 Postcard An old 1925 photo postcard of the Banqueting Hall in Madras (Chennai). The Banqueting [...]

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Suez Canal And The British Empire, Old Photo 1880
From England To India Through The Suez Canal, 1880 Photo
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From England To India Through The Suez Canal, 1880 Photo

From England To India Through The Suez Canal, 1880 Photo

Old India Photos, Other India Photos

From England To India Through The Suez Canal, 1880 Photo An 1880 photo of the Suez Canal which made travel [...]

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nb-develop-admin2023-01-31T21:12:18+05:30
King Edward VII's Coronation Prayers At Simla, 1902
King Edward VII’s Coronation Prayers At Simla, 1902
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King Edward VII’s Coronation Prayers At Simla, 1902

King Edward VII’s Coronation Prayers At Simla, 1902

Old India Photos, Other India Photos

King Edward VII's Coronation Prayers At Simla, 1902 Old 1902 stereophoto of King Edward VII's coronation prayer service in progress [...]

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nb-develop-admin2026-07-03T23:06:24+05:30
Interior Of The Government House British Era Madras, 1888 Photo
Interior Of The Government House British Era Madras, 1888 Photo
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Interior Of The Government House British Era Madras, 1888 Photo

Interior Of The Government House British Era Madras, 1888 Photo

Madras Photos, Old India Photos

Interior Of The Government House, British Era Madras, 1888 Photo An 1888 photograph shows the interior of the Government House [...]

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Kanchenjunga Mountains From Darjeeling, 1890 Photo
Kanchenjunga Mountain In Himalayas View From Darjeeling, 1890
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Kanchenjunga Mountain In Himalayas View From Darjeeling, 1890

Kanchenjunga Mountain In Himalayas View From Darjeeling, 1890

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Kanchenjunga Mountain In Himalayas View From Darjeeling, 1890 Photo Old 1890 photo with a view of the Kanchenjunga Mountain in [...]

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Victoria Terminus & Horse Tram Bombay, 1903 Photo 
Victoria Terminus & Horse Tram Bombay, 1903 Photo 
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Victoria Terminus & Horse Tram Bombay, 1903 Photo 

Victoria Terminus & Horse Tram Bombay, 1903 Photo 

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Victoria Terminus & Horse Tram Bombay, 1903 Photo Old 1903 stereophoto of the Victoria Terminus and passing in front is [...]

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nb-develop-admin2023-01-27T22:22:46+05:30
Old Book 1914 - Academy Architecture
Old Book 1914 – Academy Architecture
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Old Book 1914 - Academy Architecture Title - Academy Architecture And Architectural Review Editorial And Publishing - 44 Doughty Street, [...]

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Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” Oleograph 1894

past-india.com

This site illustrates a past India through a collection of antique and vintage mediums of Raja Ravi Varma oleographs, old India photos, old postcards, old paper prints, and so on.

Although the collection may or may not be too varied, but generally projects a glimpse to what India looked like in the past. And how it has evolved since then. Few would realize that once there were Trams in Bombay, Madras, Delhi…

That, Madras operated the first electric Tram in India from 1895 up to its closure in 1953. With Calcutta and Bombay starting off with Horse-Drawn Trams, later electrifying them by the early 1900s.

That, in World War II, they camouflaged the Taj Mahal with bamboo scaffoldings. So as to project it as a construction site that perhaps would fool any air attacks from the Germans and Japanese might, although this never happened. All in all, the jewel in this collection is the rare Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” oleograph or chromolithograph of 1894. This was the first oleograph to come out from the then newly opened Raja Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithograph Press(or FAL press) in 1894.

The many legacies of the British Raj are not missed out in this collection. Many of the buildings and streets have gone through several makeovers to the extent of being unrecognizable today or have completely disappeared from the scene. But the memories are kept alive hopefully to some extent by this collection.

As they say- “seeing is believing.” Hope you enjoy this collection. Please write to us at- info@past-india.com

Popular & Rare

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Past India

You can see the main categories on the top of the page, and except for the “Raja Ravi Varma Oleograph & Other Art” category all the other main categories have drop-down to sub-categories. You can then select the subject of your interest or you can check through the search box and if available it will display the results. The photos, prints & picture postcards depict a varied subjects of a Past India we may have forgotten- from people on the streets to people at grand events like Delhi durbar, from Taj Mahal to Gateway of India, from residential areas to commercial areas, from home exterior to interior of homes and so on. This site also includes a photo of "Charlie Chaplin" with his autograph signed on the back. There are also old maps, books, Raja Ravi Varma’s oelographs etc. “A picture is worth a thousand words” is an old adage, I’m sure this blog should interest you likewise. All the items displayed are from my personal collection unless otherwise specified.

Contact us:

info@past-india.com
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