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Homedevmaster2024-04-27T10:47:08+05:30
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Queen Mary At The Taj Mahal, 1911 Print
Queen Mary At The Taj Mahal, 1911 Print
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Queen Mary At The Taj Mahal, 1911 Print

Queen Mary At The Taj Mahal, 1911 Print

Queen Mary At The Taj Mahal, 1911 Print This is a page of "The Sphere", a British newspaper from December ....read more

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devmaster2024-04-19T07:43:11+05:30
Trial Run of Nilgiri Mountain Railway Steam Train, 1899 Photo
Test Run of The Nilgiri Mountain Railway’s Steam Train, 1899 Photo
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Test Run of The Nilgiri Mountain Railway’s Steam Train, 1899 Photo

Test Run of The Nilgiri Mountain Railway’s Steam Train, 1899 Photo

Test Run of The Nilgiri Mountain Railway's Steam Train, 1899 Photo An 1899 photo of Nilgiri Mountain Railway steam train's ....read more

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devmaster2024-01-06T11:23:59+05:30
Italian Hotel Bosotto Mount Road Madras, 1928 Postcard
Italian Hotel Bosotto Mount Road Madras, 1928 Postcard
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Italian Hotel Bosotto Mount Road Madras, 1928 Postcard

Italian Hotel Bosotto Mount Road Madras, 1928 Postcard

Italian Hotel Bosotto Mount Road Madras, 1928 Postcard Old 1928 postcard of the Italian Hotel Bosotto at Mount Road in ....read more

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devmaster2024-01-06T11:54:39+05:30
Mount Road During British Era Madras, 1910 Postcard
Mount Road During British Era Madras, 1910 Postcard
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Mount Road During British Era Madras, 1910 Postcard

Mount Road During British Era Madras, 1910 Postcard

Mount Road During British Era Madras, 1910 Postcard Old 1910 postcard of Mount Road at the time of British era ....read more

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devmaster2023-11-01T04:40:11+05:30
Madras Central Station & Europeans, Old PC 1915
Madras Central Station & Europeans, Old PC 1915
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Madras Central Station & Europeans, Old PC 1915

Madras Central Station & Europeans, Old PC 1915

Madras Central Station & Europeans, Old PC 1915 Old 1915 pc or postcard that shows Europeans walking in front of ....read more

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devmaster2024-03-11T08:27:31+05:30
Early Aviation Biplane In British India Era, 1913 Times of India
Early Aviation Biplane In British India Era, 1913 Times of India
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Early Aviation Biplane In British India Era, 1913 Times of India

Early Aviation Biplane In British India Era, 1913 Times of India

Early Aviation Biplane In British India Era, 1913 Times of India A rare glimpse of an early aviation biplane during ....read more

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devmaster2024-03-12T07:24:29+05:30
Aerial View of British Era Bombay, 1936 Print
Aerial View of British Era Bombay, 1936 Print
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Aerial View of British Era Bombay, 1936 Print

Aerial View of British Era Bombay, 1936 Print

Aerial View of British Era Bombay, 1936 Print A 1936 print with an aerial view of British Era Bombay (Mumbai). ....read more

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devmaster2025-11-17T03:47:12+05:30
1924 photo of the Gateway of India in Bombay showing workers completing the monument at Apollo Bunder with the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel nearby.
Gateway Of India Bombay In Final Stage Of Completion, 1924
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Gateway Of India Bombay In Final Stage Of Completion, 1924

Gateway Of India Bombay In Final Stage Of Completion, 1924

Gateway Of India, Bombay, In The Final Stage Of Completion, 1924 Photo A 1924 photograph captures the Gateway of India ....read more

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devmaster2025-11-17T22:58:21+05:30
View Of The Madras Harbour & Parry's Corner, 1880 Photo
View Of The Madras Harbour & Parry’s Corner, 1880 Photo
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View Of The Madras Harbour & Parry’s Corner, 1880 Photo

View Of The Madras Harbour & Parry’s Corner, 1880 Photo

View Of The Madras Harbour & Parry's Corner, 1880 Photo An 1880 photograph offering a sweeping view of Madras Harbour ....read more

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devmaster2025-11-18T17:37:20+05:30
1879 photo of the Senate House and Cooum River branch in British-era Madras, showing a boat with cargo and early construction around the Indo-Saracenic building.
River Cooum, Senate House & Chepauk Palace Madras, 1879
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River Cooum, Senate House & Chepauk Palace Madras, 1879

River Cooum, Senate House & Chepauk Palace Madras, 1879

River Cooum, Senate House & Chepauk Palace Madras, 1879 Photo A 1879 photograph captures a stunning view of the River ....read more

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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

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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
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