Indian cities: Photos and videos from the past [Archive]

bhargavsura

August 28th, 2009, 04:46 AM

The following pictures have been extracted from the Album of Humayunn Peerzaada (http://www.flickr.com/photos/humayunnapeerzaada/) from Flickr. I really appreciate his hard work in keeping an excellent collection of the pictures and entertaining us with his nice photography. As he mentions in his Vintage Bombay Album (http://www.flickr.com/photos/humayunnapeerzaada/2101568278/in/photostream/) that "These pictures doesn't belong to me .. its just that a friend of mine Naresh Nagda, sent these on my email .. worked on it on PS and wanted all my flickr friends to see vintage Bombay. "

Thank you Humayunn.

Victoria Terminus (now: Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus) Picture roughly around 80-100 years old

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजी टरमीनस), formerly Victoria Terminus, and better known by its abbreviation CST or Bombay VT) is an historic railway station which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. It is one of the busiest railway stations in India[citation needed], and serves Central Railway trains terminating in Mumbai as well as the Mumbai suburban railway.

The station was designed by Frederick William Stevens, a consulting architect in 1887-1888, for the princely sum of 16.14 lakh rupees. Stevens earned the commission to construct the station after a masterpiece water colour sketch by draughts man Axel Herman. After earning the commission, Stevens went on a ten-month trip to Europe to make a detailed study of the stations there. The final design bears some resemblance to St. Pancras station in London[citation needed]. It took ten years to complete and was named "Victoria Terminus" in honor of the reigning Queen Victoria.

In 1996, the station was renamed by the state government after Chhatrapati Shivaji, a famed 17th century Maratha king.

On July 2, 2004 the station was nominated a World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO.

Source: Wikipedia (Courtesy of Humayunn Peerzaada on Flickr)

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/7819/2101568278c0081d6591.jpg (http://img299.imageshack.us/i/2101568278c0081d6591.jpg/)

Marine Drive: Picture taken in 1930

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/9601/2102992877e6aee2b6da.jpg (http://img299.imageshack.us/i/2102992877e6aee2b6da.jpg/)

Oval Maidan: Picture taken in 1875

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8060/2103772126715bd43dd1b.jpg (http://img156.imageshack.us/i/2103772126715bd43dd1b.jpg/)

Kalbadevi

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/7116/2105347144c24b2d4229b.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/i/2105347144c24b2d4229b.jpg/)

Cuffe Parade

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4739/2105945690b296813cb2b.jpg (http://img507.imageshack.us/i/2105945690b296813cb2b.jpg/)

Asiatic Society Library

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/2979/2108907340cf1c17bd87b.jpg (http://img507.imageshack.us/i/2108907340cf1c17bd87b.jpg/)

Churchgate Station

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/3488/21089116560d6bb2eb83b.jpg (http://img5.imageshack.us/i/21089116560d6bb2eb83b.jpg/)

Colaba Reclamation from Woodhouse Bridge

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/8140/211097942080d2e42f56b.jpg (http://img5.imageshack.us/i/211097942080d2e42f56b.jpg/)

Source: Naresh Nagda and Courtesy of Humayunn Peerzaada

Marathaman

August 28th, 2009, 07:15 PM

Can the mods please change the thread title?

satishanu

August 30th, 2009, 05:03 AM

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/5217/madras1880.jpg

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2712/madras5004.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5089/madras5008.jpg

Trams
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/5456/madras5009.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5dO5qACLUzU/R8TuiiNdzHI/AAAAAAAAAYY/G0RTaGt0nJY/s640/Madras%20streets%201%20-1944.jpg

St Thomas Mount
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5dO5qACLUzU/R8TuwiNdzOI/AAAAAAAAAZU/W0VGfnrTxkY/s640/St%20thomas%20Mount%202.jpg

Central Station
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9328/chennaicentral.jpg

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3315/central1920.jpg

High Court
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8263/oldhighcourt.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5dO5qACLUzU/R_IbojTBRqI/AAAAAAAAA_g/Sm7hTnjlK3E/s640/High%20court%20Madras.jpg

Marina Beach
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1082/marina1c.jpg

Rippon Building
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/3570/ripponbuilding.jpg

Higginbothams
http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2959/higginbothams.jpg

Madras Christian College
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/4552/madraschristancollege.jpg

Parthasarathy Temple
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5dO5qACLUzU/R8Ts5SNdyAI/AAAAAAAAAPc/jUQg_-A7eZA/s576/parthasarathy%20temple%201851.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5dO5qACLUzU/R8Ts9CNdyCI/AAAAAAAAAPs/645wJAsHFUI/s640/parthasarathy%20temple%202-1851.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5dO5qACLUzU/SAhgcy41rAI/AAAAAAAABJo/vdvwx4ur96A/s720/Parthasarathy%20temple%203.jpg

St Andrews Church, Egmore
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5dO5qACLUzU/R8TtVCNdyQI/AAAAAAAAARc/Yk7x5Yr3wUg/s640/St%20Andrew%27s%20Church%201%20-%20Egmore%20madras.JPG

Spencers
http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/6972/spencers.jpg

arijeetb

August 31st, 2009, 11:44 PM

St Paul's Cathedral, Calcutta, ~1860
Source:http://oldindianphotos.blogspot.com

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/3292/stpaulscathedralcalcutt.jpg

arijeetb

August 31st, 2009, 11:45 PM

Great Eastern Hotel, Old Courthouse Street,Calcutta
Source:http://oldindianphotos.blogspot.com

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/8109/greateasternhotelinoldc.jpg

Clive Street, 1890s
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5400/clivestreetaphotogravur.jpg

arijeetb

August 31st, 2009, 11:49 PM

Grand Hotel, Chowringhee,Calcutta ~1903
Source:http://oldindianphotos.blogspot.com

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/9708/calcuttastreetinfrontof.jpg

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/2271/grand1903.jpg

yashchauhan

September 1st, 2009, 06:38 AM

Chowringhee/Howrah bridge area, Kolkata ~1940s
Source:http://oldindianphotos.blogspot.com

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/2793/westapproachtohowrahbri.jpg
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/8971/chowringeeandtramtermin.jpg
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9028/lookingsouthdownchowrin.jpg

though our per capita and living standards have come a long way from pre independence era.......our infrastructure has surely become worse thanks to impotency of our politicians!.........look at kolkata and mumbai and look at them now!

Indian Rockstars

September 1st, 2009, 08:49 AM

churchgate station and marine drive looks awesome , out of the world seriously i loved those pictures , i think britishers should have ruled us for few more years , picture could have been lot different.

dont take me wrong guys , its sad but true.

look at the mumbai at that time and whats there now.

dissapointed

arijeetb

September 1st, 2009, 09:46 AM

though our per capita and living standards have come a long way from pre independence era.......our infrastructure has surely become worse thanks to impotency of our politicians!.........look at kolkata and mumbai and look at them now!

^^the British surely knew how to build and maintain cities and we the people of independant India are perfect in undoing the glory of the past for personal gains. Sadly everyone is to be blamed someway or the other.

jumoni

September 1st, 2009, 12:37 PM

i think britishers should have ruled us for few more years , picture could have been lot different.

dont take me wrong guys , its sad but true.

Hi Hi....in a way correct. By now we would have had 4-5 cities like Hong Kong/Shanghai and around 20-30 cities like Macau all over India. Also, don't forget, the French and Portuguese. So, Goa would have been like the French reveira/Marseillies and Panaji would have been Monte Carlo. Pondicherry/Daman & Diu could have been like few Brazilian cities like Rio De Jannerio and Sau Paulo. But then again....there would have been another aspect to it as well.:)

bhargavsura

September 1st, 2009, 04:42 PM

Bridge in Srinagar

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2993/36568905365974da3702b.jpg

Source: Michiel2005

Marathaman

September 1st, 2009, 04:46 PM

dont take me wrong guys , its sad but true.

Disgusting. You realize that those colonial cities were flourishing while the rest of the country was literally starving to death? They were artificial cities, kept alive by foreigners, while the Indian spirit was crushed and dead. Of course they were magnificent cities. The British were at the height of their self-confidence, wealth, and power. Why wouldn't they be? So get some damned self respect before you even suggest that the British should have continued to rule. I don't know what they taught you at school, if some photos of colonial cities sway you enough to want to give up your independence.

bhargavsura

September 1st, 2009, 04:50 PM

Chandni Chowk

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/9623/mirzachandni.jpg

Source: Columbia.edu

arijeetb

September 1st, 2009, 10:06 PM

Disgusting. You realize that those colonial cities were flourishing while the rest of the country was literally starving to death? They were artificial cities, kept alive by foreigners, while the Indian spirit was crushed and dead. Of course they were magnificent cities. The British were at the height of their self-confidence, wealth, and power. Why wouldn't they be? So get some damned self respect before you even suggest that the British should have continued to rule. I don't know what they taught you at school, if some photos of colonial cities sway you enough to want to give up your independence.

^^Marathaman, there is nothing really to thump our chests about , since independance/freedom means nothing to the vast majority in India today, thanks to the large misuse of it in the decades following independance.

But i agree with your point that there were contrasts during the colonial era and most of them were pretty stark. In Calcutta, the 'black town' was were most of the people from the subcontinent lived and the living conditions there were quite apalling.

Having said that we all agree that the British excelled in management and engineering and there is enough proof of that to this day.

Marathaman

September 1st, 2009, 11:06 PM

Having said that we all agree that the British excelled in management and engineering and there is enough proof of that to this day.

If Indians had decided to continue those policies of racial segregation and other nonsense, I'm sure our cities would look pristine today.

The fact is that no city, however efficient, can cope with the massive migration that Mumbai (and other cities) have seen post-Independence. Any city would crumble in the face of such massive influx. Why do you think Chinese cities are access-controlled?

arijeetb

September 8th, 2009, 10:49 PM

Source: http://oldindianphotos.blogspot.com/

Dalhousie Square, Kolkata seat of power of the British Empire - circa 1878. A portion of the headquarters of the East India company ( Writers Buildings) can be seen on the right

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/4631/dalhousiesquarecalcutta.jpg

Maidan ( Central Park), Kolkata from Govt house - circa 1860s

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/855/themaidancalcuttafromgo.jpg

_GrapeWine_

September 10th, 2009, 04:09 PM

Nice thread!! :cheers:

Old Courthouse Street, Kolkata, ~1880
Source:http://oldindianphotos.blogspot.com

Most of the buildings and the tram tracks in the image exist today

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/1587/oldcourthousestreetcalc.jpg

If you look carefully in this photo at bottom left, the year printed seems to be 1763!!

arijeetb

September 10th, 2009, 08:16 PM

Nice thread!! :cheers:

If you look carefully in this photo at bottom left, the year printed seems to be 1763!!

^^yeah, did see that, but could be a mistake. All of these exist today and I do not think they are more than 225 years old.

IchimaruGin1

September 11th, 2009, 11:05 AM

^^Marathaman, there is nothing really to thump our chests about , since independance/freedom means nothing to the vast majority in India today, thanks to the large misuse of it in the decades following independance.

But i agree with your point that there were contrasts during the colonial era and most of them were pretty stark. In Calcutta, the 'black town' was were most of the people from the subcontinent lived and the living conditions there were quite apalling.

Having said that we all agree that the British excelled in management and engineering and there is enough proof of that to this day.

thats not true.

life expectancy HDI (human development index) and everything have grown at a good pace since independence.

As maratha man said , controlled access is the reason for the mumbai of then...

Advait

September 11th, 2009, 11:32 AM

the British surely knew how to build and maintain cities and we the people of independant India are perfect in undoing the glory of the past for personal gains. Sadly everyone is to be blamed someway or the other.

Only people without self-respect talk like that. It's equivalent to a raped woman talking about manhood of the rapist compared to her husband.
Please read up about the life-expectancy,famines of that era and complete wipe-out of indian rural industries. Even technically speaking they(brits) never had to deal with the huge population issues that we have to deal with today. Besides, wouldn't slaves be more efficient than hired subordinates if you were to form a company?

The chinese are able to manage their system because of their Hukou system wherein not any chinese can start working in any city. Do you realize what a big flood of people would be there in their Shanghai, Shenzhen etc if they allowed free movement and slums?

engineer.akash

September 11th, 2009, 03:12 PM

belgaum in 1940/1925 railway station

http://allaboutbelgaum.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/bgmrailway-station-1940s.jpg

http://allaboutbelgaum.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/1925railwaybelgaum.jpg

kg4129

September 11th, 2009, 03:32 PM

From Chennai Thread...

Mount Road
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/8194/1565e.jpg

Trams in Chennai
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/5558/amp00184.jpg

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/7526/in2n.jpg

Tram to Custom House
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2574/traminmadras1.jpg

kg4129

September 11th, 2009, 03:35 PM

Continued.......Chennai

Saidapet Bridge u/c
http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/07/01/stories/2009070150200100.htm

http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/07/01/images/2009070150200101.jpg

Marina Beach Road (before the light house was constructed)
http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/08/12/stories/2009081250070100.htm

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/08/12/images/2009081250070101.jpg

Mount Road - Spencers to LIC stretch
http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/03/11/stories/2009031150020100.htm

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/03/11/images/2009031150020101.jpg

Mada Street
http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/03/04/stories/2009030450220100.htm

http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/03/04/images/2009030450220102.jpg

NSC Bose Road - Parrys Corner
http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/05/13/stories/2009051350010100.htm

http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/05/13/images/2009051350010101.jpg

Mount Road
http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2008/12/31/stories/2008123150200100.htm

http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2008/12/31/images/2008123150200101.jpg

Marina Beach Road
http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/04/08/chenindx.htm

http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/04/08/images/2009040850100101.jpg

http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/04/22/stories/2009042250040100.htm
http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/04/22/images/2009042250040102.jpg

Kodambakkam Bridge
http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/08/05/stories/2009080550010100.htm

http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/08/05/images/2009080550010102.jpg

kg4129

September 11th, 2009, 03:37 PM

Mount Road -Chennai

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article13229.ece

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00002/MP02LEAD1_2548f.jpg

arijeetb

September 11th, 2009, 05:34 PM

Only people without self-respect talk like that. It's equivalent to a raped woman talking about manhood of the rapist compared to her husband.
Please read up about the life-expectancy,famines of that era and complete wipe-out of indian rural industries. Even technically speaking they(brits) never had to deal with the huge population issues that we have to deal with today. Besides, wouldn't slaves be more efficient than hired subordinates if you were to form a company?

The chinese are able to manage their system because of their Hukou system wherein not any chinese can start working in any city. Do you realize what a big flood of people would be there in their Shanghai, Shenzhen etc if they allowed free movement and slums?

^^Either you are too ignorant or have not clearly read what was being said here. All I spoke about was the good that the British did ( Indian railways is the living example) and NOT the harm which you are pinpointing in your note.

It is good to be patriotic, but blind defense and excuses for our problems today is pitiful.

Let us not talk about the China model here, even though I strongly believe in most parts of it. We are a democracy and everybody's view counts even if that puts us decades behind in implementing key projects and ushering in economic growth.

vishal

September 11th, 2009, 08:16 PM

^^Either you are too ignorant or have not clearly read what was being said here. All I spoke about was the good that the British did ( Indian railways is the living example) and NOT the harm which you are pinpointing in your note.

It is good to be patriotic, but blind defense and excuses for our problems today is pitiful.

Let us not talk about the China model here, even though I strongly believe in most parts of it. We are a democracy and everybody's view counts even if that puts us decades behind in implementing key projects and ushering in economic growth.

We must not forget that India (considering all those earlier states/territories as one) was rich and flourishing until the foreigners came and plundered our resources.
The Britishers surely made some good city infrastructure and railway system. But before that too we had all those magnificent palaces/old cities/mosques etc. that are still standing tall and are a proof of our knowledge of architecture and aesthetics. So, this is a very subjective matter and one can have different points of opinion. If you look in a way, then it was due to the foreign rule that we lost our ancient knowledge of architecture/medicines/science etc...Its all about perspective.

What we see today is surely not what should have been, but I am sure we are struggling our way towards betterment....from all that we lost in the freedom war. For that matter just check the difference made in the last 10Yrs or so.

Jodhpur2

September 11th, 2009, 10:38 PM

Right how about we leave this debate otherwise this thread would be derailed.. these kind of debates can go on for on and on... I think we should have one thread in chaibar but mods won't allow it...:(

Bombay Boy

September 12th, 2009, 03:37 PM

india wasnt exactly rich before colonialism. it was just ruled by a more tanned set of dictators. the majority were still abysmally poor

there are many aspects to the whole colonial city-modern indian city debate. segregation is one of them. but also undeniably the people in the municipal corporations of these cities were also a lot more educated, visionary, qualified and less corrupt. if you have any relative who has dealt with corporations like the BMC pre and post 1960 (not 1947, the culture lasted for a few years more) ask them about the difference. thats one of the major reasons for the poor state of indian cities today, not just migration

Marathaman

September 12th, 2009, 04:32 PM

india wasnt exactly rich before colonialism. it was just ruled by a more tanned set of dictators. the majority were still abysmally poor

You really have no clue about colonialism, do you?

Illusionist

September 12th, 2009, 07:39 PM

Inauguration of Delhi.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/indrajal/General/opening1927.jpg

"At the opening of India's new capital -- the Maharaja of Bharatpur and the Maharaja of Dholpur dressed in their flowing gowns of gold cloth at the formal opening of New Delhi as the capital by Lord Irwin, Viceroy of India" (a news bureau photo, 1927)

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/indrajal/General/secretariat1.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/indrajal/General/viceroy.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/indrajal/General/mountedguard.jpg

All pics from 1930
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1800_1899/britishrule/lutyensdelhi/lutyensdelhi.html

BHOPAL EXPRESS

September 13th, 2009, 09:21 AM

Big_Oil

September 13th, 2009, 10:49 PM

Most of the wealth in any country was held by a tiny elite before industrialization.

I agree the Indian bureaucracy is filled with lethargic unmotivated losers unlike the private sector.

Life Expectancy was a little over 30 under the British (It's approaching 70 now). Literacy rate was 12% in 1947 (It was 61% in 2001 and probably around 70% now). Total electricity generation was less than 1500 MW for all of India (It's still low compared to the demand today but around 150,000 MW)

If India had done the economic reforms they did in 1991 in 1951 then India would be a first world country today. Socialism failed in creating economic growth when India's population was growing fast (The time when it was needed the most).

I also think most of the poverty in cities in India is due to the neglect of Agriculture. Half of the produce and grain grown in India today is wasted due to lack of cold storage and granaries. The yield/acre in India is also half of that of China and 1st world countries. In other words, India can triple (or more) it's food availability if enough irrigation and food storage is built.

Bombay Boy is correct.
India's riches have always been held by few elites, masses in general were poor. This has been clearly recorded and documented since the fag end of moghul era.

natarajan1986

September 13th, 2009, 11:11 PM

old photos of chennai with tram is amazing :banana::banana:

Big_Oil

September 13th, 2009, 11:11 PM

What I see is a vast Brown slave class and the nice building's are for the White's only (Didn't most of the Buildings say Dogs and Indians not allowed)
Indian cities like Patliputra looked real neat under the Mauryan empire thousands of years ago also, they didn't need a Barbarian from a European Isle to teach them to build that.

Indians didn't need a White man to mange building the Infosys Campus today either. I would say one of the reasons for the mismanagement is a lack of Nationalism and self pride in Race, Culture and Heritage. The British have no Auto-Industry to speak of today (ironically bought by an Indian company!)

The low point for Indian cities is actually in the past (80's to mid 90's). The cities are on a slow recovery path since then. Again the main cause is neglect of the peasants (& Agriculture) in the countryside. I expect India will look like a middle income country like Turkey or Mexico in 10-15 years and 1st world by 25-30 years.

Only people without self-respect talk like that. It's equivalent to a raped woman talking about manhood of the rapist compared to her husband.
Please read up about the life-expectancy,famines of that era and complete wipe-out of indian rural industries. Even technically speaking they(brits) never had to deal with the huge population issues that we have to deal with today. Besides, wouldn't slaves be more efficient than hired subordinates if you were to form a company?

The chinese are able to manage their system because of their Hukou system wherein not any chinese can start working in any city. Do you realize what a big flood of people would be there in their Shanghai, Shenzhen etc if they allowed free movement and slums?

Advait

September 14th, 2009, 01:04 AM

Bombay Boy is correct.
India's riches have always been held by few elites, masses in general were poor. This has been clearly recorded and documented since the fag end of moghul era.

The riches may have been held by few elites, of course we had feudal lords (like everywhere in Asia incl Japan) but the value of our currency was high. Do you realize how much a Rupee could buy back then? And what lifestyle even common man had in terms of food? My maternal grandfather built a three storeyed wooden house for Rs 700 !(and it is in use today) My friend says his house used to have 21 different types of vegetables cooked everyday in their house and his grandfather was just an ayurvedic physician in a small town. And this one, even I had hard time accepting: it is said that people of Agra had 1 kilo sweets post dinner and a glass full of sweet thickened milk, Rabri. Yes they also had to manually pull water out of the well for bath. But we had the purchasing power. Even the original rupee from which our present currency derives name was actually a Silver coin (Rupa meaning silver)

Did you know that until 1960s, the currency of Dubai was the Indian Rupee? It was later that the west forced them to peg oil in terms of dollar pressured our govt in 60s to devalue the INR and the wars we fought brought inflation and we lost all our purchasing power.

Indian cities like Patliputra looked real neat under the Mauryan empire thousands of years ago also, they didn't need a Barbarian from a European Isle to teach them to build that.
True. The forts in Rajasthan have water being brought from nearest lake by capilary type mechanism. The villages uncovered in Indus valley civilization do have well developed drainage system.

I would say one of the reasons for the mismanagement is a lack of Nationalism and self pride in Race, Culture and Heritage.

Very true. Nationalism is the only anti-dote to corruption. No matter how corrupt a politician or a bureaucrat is, if they are nationalistic they wouldn't stoop to the level of selling out nations interests or totally ignoring the problems that plague the society.
China's success today is the success of nationalism among its administrators and not its communism. Their curriculum is fiercely nationalist

Bombay Boy

September 14th, 2009, 11:22 AM

Do you realize how much a Rupee could buy back then?

when? 1900s? 1500s? 1100s?

Marathaman

September 14th, 2009, 11:35 AM

Bombay Boy

September 14th, 2009, 11:55 AM

ey? most of bombay was built under british rule. but most of the buildings were built by indians. there were white-only clubs and maybe some buildings and only whites could be governors or judges, but indians lived in all areas - byculla, colaba, walkeshwar, etc

Advait

September 14th, 2009, 12:34 PM

when? 1900s? 1500s? 1100s?

Pick any time, the value of our currency has declined steadily in chronological order.
Is it a revelation that our currency was an actual precious metal? A look at India's share of global trade before the brits came would give a good idea why? Portuguese themselves have description of how rubies were sold in the street shops of capital of Vijayanagar empire.

Even the reason for our tiff with chinese can be traced back to the use of loyal colonial era indian soldiers who defended their gora sahibs against the chinese during the chinese Boxer revolution against western imperialists. Many chinese carried forward their resentment of indians leading us to a major tiff in 62. Why did we have to shed blood for them and earn enmity where we had nothing to do? So let's stop acting like "intellectuals" glorifying past humiliation.

I don't know why we are so proud of these pictures, when our grandfathers had nothing to do with these cities or their functioning.
Really find it irritating when our shameless "intellectuals" start calling symbols of past humiliation as "colonial heritage". And if that was not enough you find new luxury apartments bearing those Parthenon style triangles or western classical styles as if we do not have enough Indian sculpture to preserve and integrate into modern styles. Them bearing western names like Windsor..etc is another story.
UBcity's interiors are a pinnacle in low self-esteem. Why couldn't it borrow sculptural cues from ruins of erstwhile Vijayanagar empire. After all Vijayanagar empire too was full of affluence. Would ANY western mall have pictures of Indians in their posh malls the way he has all gora sahibs pictures hanging on walls of UB city?
Look at Dubai metro station interiors and how they integrate their Arabic architecture with the modern minimalism and glass.

Big_Oil

September 14th, 2009, 04:04 PM

Top 5 reasons you may prefer the colonial era:

1) You like Taxation without representation.
2) You like being racially segregated in the land your race occupied for thousands of years before the invader.
3) You enjoy forced starvation/ famines every few years to "control" your race.
4) Wonderful new technology like "Railroads" will be built for you, but a $10 Billion Railroad will be built after pillaging about $100 Billion in wealth from poor peasants.
5) You don't like Industrialization, but actually prefer to ship raw commodities overseas to the "Master" country who in turn sells you value added products thereby slowing making you poorer.

bradthomas

November 18th, 2009, 07:47 AM

Hello friends,

I really liked the image of the mumbai and old time india.Thanks for sharing this this photo.Do share such photo in future to..

Thanks you!!

Marathaman

January 13th, 2010, 04:45 PM

View of Datia, Madhya Pradesh:

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1500_1599/orchha/datia/therond1.jpg

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1500_1599/orchha/datia/datia.html

simpliCITY

January 19th, 2010, 07:26 AM

Not a photograph but a historic drawing of Calicut before 1572
http://i48.tinypic.com/dcq6w5.jpg
From Braun and Hogenberg, Civitates Orbis Terrarum .
Date: first Latin edition of volume I was published in 1572.
After: an unidentified Portuguese manuscript

http://i47.tinypic.com/2edxwkz.jpg
Calicut, on the Coast of Malabar," from James Forbes's Oriental Memoirs, London, 1813

Marathaman

January 19th, 2010, 07:29 AM

Ajmer
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3648/streetscene.jpg

Pune
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3773/salt1804.jpg

Lucknow
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/9241/overview1858.jpg

Marathaman

January 19th, 2010, 07:35 AM

Jaipur
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6199/valleyc.jpg

Chandni Chowk, Delhi
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/357/iln1857.jpg

Varanasi
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5180/iln1876b.jpg

Marathaman

January 19th, 2010, 07:40 AM

Madurai
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/6059/celebratedhindutemples.jpg

India101

January 19th, 2010, 07:48 AM

Those don't look like photos.

Marathaman

January 19th, 2010, 07:50 AM

^Closest thing to a photo

Marathaman

January 20th, 2010, 02:38 PM

*Principal Street, Hyderabad; a photo by Lala Deen Dayal, 1880's*

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/4333/deendayal1880s.jpg

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/5498/photo1870.jpg

Marathaman

January 20th, 2010, 02:41 PM

*Distant view of City, Hyderabad; a photo by Lala Deen Dayal, 1880's*
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/6762/deendayal1880s2.jpg

Marathaman

January 20th, 2010, 03:07 PM

The Raya Gopuram from E. [Minakshi Sundareshvara Temple, Madurai]
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/3735/019pho0000953s1u0000800.jpg

Tanjore, taken by Samuel Bourne in 1869
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/723/019pho000000011u0000300.jpg

View of Tanjore from the ramparts, taken by Samuel Bourne in 1869.
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/5095/019pho000000011u0000400.jpg

libsonluv

January 22nd, 2010, 07:01 PM

Baroda on Flickr reminds us of the pls time art which bore up with strength and versaltality. The pictures are depicting the craft of mansions who gave it a great deal of beauty.

engineer.akash

February 27th, 2010, 10:01 PM

source MUDA

Dodakere lake in front of the palace

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8974/mta4.jpg

hardinge cirlce

the present circle resembles this no where...:ohno:

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5919/mta3.jpg

this circle has been shifted to mysore- bangalore road

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/8973/mta5.jpg

:happy:

mumbaiwala

March 12th, 2010, 10:18 PM

I want the old city of Mumbai back. It was vast and clean and oh yeah, less congested.

You can squarely lay the blame on Bollywood for showing every "ramu chacha" coming to "Bambai" for work in every movie from Raj StupidKapoor to Benarasi babu Amitabh :ohno:

I always wanted them to show the village buffon from UP/Bihar going to Madras for a change.

Marathaman

March 13th, 2010, 06:40 AM

"Street and public library, Jeypore," an albumen photo, c.1870-80's

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/4323/streets1870s.jpg

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/6986/downtown1890s.jpg

A postcard photograph, c.1910

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/9760/postcard1910.jpg

"Main Street - Jeypore - Rajputana. Feb. 1890"; there seems to be a procession passing by

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/9544/photo1890.jpg

Marathaman

March 13th, 2010, 06:45 AM

Sections from a remarkable panoramic view of Delhi, a watercolor inscribed in Persian, Urdu, and English; by Mazhar Ali Khan, 1846 (BL)

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/3478/panorama5.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/8577/panorama4zv.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/9689/panorama2t.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/6272/panorama1w.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/691/panorama3z.jpg

Marathaman

March 13th, 2010, 06:54 AM

Trivandrum, 1890s.
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/9904/019pho000430s45u0000100.jpg

Trivandrum Palace, 1900s.
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/645/019pho0000017s4u0000700.jpg

Marathaman

March 13th, 2010, 07:05 AM

Bazaar street in Kolhapur, 1894
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/581/019pho0000002s8u0002300.jpg

Road to Old Rajwada and Nagar Khana [Kolhapur] 1894

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/2563/019pho0000002s8u0002200.jpg

Marathaman

March 13th, 2010, 07:16 AM

Jodhpur, 1895

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/2981/019pho000430s21u0004200.jpg

Marathaman

March 13th, 2010, 07:28 AM

View of one side of the main street in the Indian city of Patna (1814)
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7127/019addor0004699u0000000.jpg

Both sides of the main street of Patna, dominated by two facing chattris
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3400/019addor0004700u0000000.jpg

Mosque of Fakr al-Daula, Patna City (Bihar). 26 October 1824
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/941/019wdz000002060u0004900.jpg

View of a temple erected by Maharaja Mitrajit Singh in the W. suburbs of Patna City (Bihar), taken from the terrace of the Raja's house. 25 October 1824
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6536/019wdz000002060u0004700.jpg

Eastern gateway of Patna City (Bihar). 26 October 1824
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/46/019wdz000002060u0004800.jpg

Part of the City of Patna, on the River Ganges
http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/8161/019xzz000004321u0001000.jpg

Don_Ron_NYC

March 13th, 2010, 07:41 AM

Wow -

Great photos Marathaman.

One thing that stands out in these photos is the overall cleanliness. Sure black and white photos tend to hide dirt, but the absence of plastic and paper, not to mention those pesky three-wheelers really makes the pics a real treat.

Thanks for posting !!

Marathaman

March 13th, 2010, 08:10 AM

Main street, in the city [Vadodara], 1895
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/4137/019pho000430s24u0007000.jpg

Marathaman

March 31st, 2010, 07:25 PM

Ajmer (1872)
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/2755/019pho000000970u0002500.jpg

Kota(1902)
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4854/019pho000430s40u0003900.jpg

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/9112/019pho000430s40u0004200.jpg

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4049/019pho000430s40u0004500.jpg

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/851/019pho000430s40u0004400.jpg

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4022/019pho000430s40u0004300.jpg

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/6600/019pho000430s40u0005300.jpg

Marathaman

March 31st, 2010, 07:28 PM

Maheshwar, Indore (1842)
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/334/019wdz000003445u0000000.jpg

GJ10

July 21st, 2010, 03:39 AM

Ye Olde Baroda

pRZa9ouBbjs

vlakshmi_n

December 27th, 2010, 07:55 AM

belgaum in 1940/1925 railway station

http://allaboutbelgaum.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/1925railwaybelgaum.jpg

Haven't seen this type of old railbus photo anywhere so far, any additional info is welcome

Yagya

December 27th, 2010, 02:20 PM

^^

It's most likely a private rail car of a Maharaja or the Viceroy. There is one in Shimla which is similar to this. Although by looking at the flag it could be owned by a wealthy merchant supporting the independence movement or something.

vlakshmi_n

December 31st, 2010, 10:31 PM

^^ @Yagya, thanx for the info

vlakshmi_n

December 31st, 2010, 10:45 PM

These photos are from HAL Air museum @ Bangalore.

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/572/halbus2.jpg

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/8048/halbus.jpg

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4667/halcar.jpg

http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/1730/halrailfactory.jpg

HAL Main building in Bangalore
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/4461/halbangalore.jpg

CC : Not mine

vlakshmi_n

December 31st, 2010, 11:09 PM

Baird Barracks - now seen part of this building in the background over the wall along side Cubbon Road this has been turned into an Army School and a Recruitment Centre

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/9756/bairdbarracksnowseenpar.png

BRV theatre in Cubbon Road - Building is still intact, now it is turned into CSD canteen.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7656/brv.png

Horse carriages on a bangalore road (unknown) - these carriages were maintained at Richmond & brigade road
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7655/horsecarriagesmaintaine.png

New Opera theatre - This building is still intact on the corner of brigade & Field Marshall Cariappa road (Residency road) junction, still under some litigation.
http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/7941/newopera.png

Oriental Building in MG road (previously known as South Parade road) - This is circle is now named as Anil Kumble circle

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/7633/orientalbuilding.png

I will try my best to give additional details of Bangalore

CC : Unknown

vlakshmi_n

January 1st, 2011, 06:46 AM

Figure of Durga @ Halebid (near hassan) in Karnataka - 1856
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4389/figureofdurgahalebidink.jpg

A Tram in Calcutta - 1945/46
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/9392/calcuttabus194546.jpg

A Taxi in Calcutta - 1944
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/7804/calcuttataxi1944.jpg

Snake charmer in calcutta 1 - 1945
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/9350/calcuttasnakecharmer194.jpg

Snake charmer in calcutta 2 - 1945
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6290/calcuttasnakecharmer219.jpg

A street in calcutta - 1945
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/6163/calcuttastreet1945.jpg

CC : unknown

vlakshmi_n

January 1st, 2011, 06:58 AM

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/1791/belandurtankcatalinasea.jpg

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/3225/belandurtank.jpg

Sandalwood Mandi/koti in Bangalore

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/527/fig31sandalwoodkotiinba.png

West End hotel (now its called Taj west end)

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8656/westend2.jpg

West end hotel pavilion verandah

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/9679/westendpavilionverandah.jpg

CC: unknown

vlakshmi_n

January 1st, 2011, 07:07 AM

Bombay Street of the Pearl Dealers - 1912

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/952/bombaystreetofthepearld.jpg

Porters in madras -1920s

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2576/portersmadras1920s.jpg

Street Scene Madras (Chennai) -1890's

http://img602.imageshack.us/img602/1170/85805556.jpg

Madras street - 1895

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3849/madras1895.jpg

Liberty theatre

http://img602.imageshack.us/img602/4440/libertytheatre.jpg
cc unknown

mohammedirshad06

January 3rd, 2011, 06:51 PM

Lets rewind back to olden days of Travancore Kingdom.:banana::banana:
Courtesy shifas786

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3438/3259023789_64689319da.jpg
Mullaperiyar dam during when it was constructed during Travancore Kingdom era

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3487/3259023781_8d3079cbec.jpg
Kollam Residency Office of British Resident to Cochin & Travancore Kingdoms

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/3259023777_07fd05598c.jpg
Kollam Residency Office of British Resident to Cochin & Travancore Kingdoms

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/3259023771_809766163b.jpg
Kowidar Palace- the official palace of Travancore Maharanis (Queens) in Trivandrum, during its early days

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/3259847444_d446c37329.jpg
Kanakkakunnu Palace, which was the official Banquet Hall of Travancore Kingdom, where guests are received. Today its major cultural center of Kerala.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/3259847434_5b7df54f4b.jpg
Trivandrum Royal General Hospital- India's first free public Allopathic hospital open to all people

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3442/3259847442_af124f7d47.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/3259847436_5a264b0346.jpg

The Trivandrum Golf Club- Commonwealth's second oldest Golf club, which is now embroiled in political controversies.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/3259012657_6e1f2f48c4.jpg
Bhakthi Vilas- The royal residence of Travancore Diwans, which is now converted as All India Radio Office

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3359/3259012647_010d6b0b01.jpg
Chakka in olden days, where the new airport terminal has sprawled today.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3372/3259847428_44ea41f9d5.jpg
Alleppy Port, which was Travancore primary port, before development of Kochi Port.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/3258999607_f0bc01f117.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/3258999591_33293171dd.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/3258999553_1ae0569876.jpg
Alleppy in olden days- The Venice of East.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3450/3258999597_0dbc5acf11.jpg
Alleppy Light house

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3435/3258999547_ec9a22ba39.jpg
The Palayam- HQ of Travancore Royal Nair Army. Today its part of Kerala Niyamasabha- Legislature Assembly

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3417/3259012635_1a85642438.jpg
Trivandrum Arts College

flyinfishjoe

January 3rd, 2011, 09:23 PM

Wow cool pictures of Kerala...

vlakshmi_n

January 3rd, 2011, 10:30 PM

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4548/braidbarrackscubbonroad.jpg

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/9826/bullockcartjewellerysst.jpg

Dhobighat
http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/6669/dhobigaht.jpg

Government Museum
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/8420/governmentmuseum.jpg

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/1157/hearsevandrawnbyhorses.jpg

Jain Kana (Gymkhana), Cox Town
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/3168/jainkanagymkhanacoxtown.jpg

Lady Curzon & Bowring Hospital, Cantonment(Now Shivajinagar) (1916)
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6527/ladycurzonbowringhospit.jpg

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/9832/mayohall.jpg

CC:unknown

vlakshmi_n

January 3rd, 2011, 10:46 PM

Muthalamma Anual Procession, going from Seppings Road Temple to Pottery Town
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/9039/muthalammaanualprocessi.jpg

Bangalore Race Course (now BTC)
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9308/racecourse.jpg

The Race Stand
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/8659/theracestand.jpg

St.Joseph's College (Now shifted to Langford Road)
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/911/scollegenowshiftedtolan.jpg

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8877/braidbarracksrecruitmen.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7787/brvtalkiescubbonroad.jpg

St.Patrick's Church
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/2858/schurch.jpg

Victoria Hospital, Near K.R.Market
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7093/victoriahospital.jpg

CC:unknown

bhargavsura

January 4th, 2011, 12:04 AM

Great collection of pictures.

World8115

January 7th, 2011, 09:51 AM

Delhi old photos

Source: Hindustan Times e-paper (http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HD/2011/01/07/ArticleHtmls/And-New-Delhi-was-unveiled-07012011004009.shtml?Mode=1)

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4638/07012011004009.jpg

Source: Hindustan Times e-paper ([URL="http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HD/2011/01/07/ArticleHtmls/100-Years-NEW-DELHI-1911-2011-100-AND-07012011114002.shtml?Mode=1)

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2122/07012011114002new.jpg

flyinfishjoe

January 7th, 2011, 09:06 PM

Hindustan Times has been running an excellent series on New Delhi history for the past few days. I'm going to try to purchase that book, 'New Delhi, Making of a Captal'--the photos themselves seem very interesting.

mountaincloud

January 8th, 2011, 06:13 AM

dear forum members,

no doubt colonialism was a terrible thing that happened to our country. India's share of world GDP was about 25% (1/4th !) before the British landed in our country. When they left, we had a miniscule 4%. this is no propaganda but accepted historical truth beyond debate. british rule started (1770 bengal famine) and ended (1943 bengal famine) with famines. during those 200 years UK prospered. but they knew how to make use of that money they stole from our country. they made nice buildings, wide roads, great public infrastructure that makes our jaws drop -- basically they made the British people get used to a good lifestyle. once that happens, any minor discomfort is blown out of proportion as if that's the burden of the whole world (including ghana and nigeria's). imagine "health care" problems in the US.

but i digress. i have been thinking for a long time why european cities look so good and why our cities don't. i am not an architect or town planner but looking at these photographs, we can make some observations, without any prejudice:

1. the clean lines in the buildings are a direct influence of the industrial revolution's focus on efficiency. after all the factories started in UK.

2. restraint. buildings are not cluttered. the lack of restraint is so rampant in our country and is most easily understood by how we "decorate" our interiors. these "decorations" have absolutely no usefulness or functionality. that's not done. of course, this practice is easily observed in the exterior of our buildings as well. decoration is not design, and good design by itself looks so pleasing to the eye. we haven't understood that. our town planners haven't understood that.

3. the plinth was made visible from a distance, so that the entire elevation can be seen. this practice is possible by a clear demarcation between what's for public use and what's private property. we assume that if amenities made for public use are being used by the poor for private purposes (e.g., encroachments on footpaths), that's still public. actually, we converted the public to private. the British were good "administrators" from this aspect.

4. in an already complex world simplicity makes us feel good. continuous frontages along the roads do just that. with those long buildings on the side, people can happily walk along the footpath without having to remain alert every other second for changing course or watching out for intrusions from left or right.

more photographs please! i will post if i find some.

vlakshmi_n

January 8th, 2011, 06:06 PM

^^ nice thoughts

flyinfishjoe

January 8th, 2011, 06:36 PM

Bombay Street of the Pearl Dealers - 1912

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/952/bombaystreetofthepearld.jpg

=

Does anyone know the modern-day name of this street?

Marathaman

January 9th, 2011, 02:45 PM

These are all colonial cities. To see impressions and paintings of pre and non colonial Indian cities, visit this thread:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1099783

bonoslack7

January 9th, 2011, 05:12 PM

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8791/04mpmuthiahjpg260752f.jpg

bonoslack7

January 10th, 2011, 11:57 PM

wleu8g2Cwo0

vlakshmi_n

January 30th, 2011, 12:03 AM

Central College - 1957

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/5797/centralcollege1957.jpg

The Residency(Raj Bhavan) Bangalore - 1870

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/8636/theresidencyrajbhavanba.jpg

The Residency(Raj Bhavan) Bangalore - 1890

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/8636/theresidencyrajbhavanba.jpg

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/8636/theresidencyrajbhavanba.jpg

Cc - Not mine

Cov Boy

January 31st, 2011, 02:07 PM

What happened to Raj Bhavan in Bangalore? Does it still exist & if so what was its fate?

Another hotel or private property?

no doubt colonialism was a terrible thing that happened to our country. India's share of world GDP was about 25% (1/4th !) before the British landed in our country.

Colonialism affected most countries in the World. What country was not colanised? From the French, Dutch, Spanish, British etc had all negatives as well as positive impacts with colanisation. The British track record in Australia wasn't good either. French speaking Quebec nearly become a separate state from Canada.

India is now the second fast growing economy in the world, the UK isn't.

What goes round comes around.

Wonderful pics btw!

vlakshmi_n

January 31st, 2011, 05:55 PM

^^ Raj bhavan is now Karnataka Governor's home cum office (Still remains as Raj Bhavan). This is building is next (right side) to Vidhana Soudha, General public can't have a glimpse of it, only politician & bigwigs get to. There's a very big garden & space. Wish they had converted this building to public place like museum or so.

bonoslack7

February 6th, 2011, 02:45 PM

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3478/10mpmuthiya1gpoj349364f.jpg

source: http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00349/10mp_Muthiya1_GPO_J_349364f.jpg

metrofreak

February 9th, 2011, 04:22 AM

http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/3252/72090842.jpg

North Block and South Block, Parliament

Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib is barely discernible...

originally posted in delhi cityscapes

metrofreak

February 9th, 2011, 04:25 AM

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/3603/84564798.jpg

:)
:)

metrofreak

February 9th, 2011, 04:26 AM

Information source: Hindustan Times special coverage of Delh's 100 years as capital (1911-2011) :)

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/2300/83123402.jpg

(clockwise from top left)
The Old Delhi Railway Station.

The All India War Memorial (India Gate) being constructed.

A specially decked 'Royal train' brought Emperor George V and Queen Mary to the new capital for Delhi Durbar. A temporary station was constructed on the Hamilton Road side of the Delhi station to handle the Durbar shuttle trains.

The throne King George V used during the durbar.

all pics by Indian Railways.

About the throne(pic by Arvind Yadav, HT):

The thrones used by King George V and Queen Mary during the 1911 Delhi Durbar are on display separately at Marble Hall Gallery and the
Gifts’ museum at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

While the King’s chair, made of silver, weighs about 640 kg, that of the queen, also made of silver, weighs about 540 kg. These chairs were designed specially for the Durbar by Calcutta-based firm HM Mint. The company’s name is inscribed on the throne of George V.

The thrones also have the names of both the King and the Queen and date of Delhi Durbar inscribed on them. “The art section of the President’s Secretariat has a professional conservator who preserves the chairs. Their original colours have been retained,” says Archana
Datta, OSD (PR) to President of India. But the conservation of these thrones is quite a task. “Every time we need to take these chairs to the conservation laboratory at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, we need a dozen people to lift them. We also have a special trolley to carry
them,” says KK Sharma, deputy director, arts, president’s secretariat. Sharma says these chairs were used by Indian Presidents till the 1960 at ceremonies held to receive credentials of foreign envoys. “But the queen’s chair has never been used,” adds Sharma. Apart from the Thrones, the Marble Hall Gallery also has a model of the Crown of King George V that dates back to 1930. It was made by Nannai Mall Contractor as inscribed on crown with date 10. 10. 1930. “Made of brass, it weighs about 200 kgs,” says Sharma.
:)

metrofreak

February 9th, 2011, 04:29 AM

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/405/64157564.jpg

thanks to HT :)
:)

metrofreak

February 9th, 2011, 04:30 AM

http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/1884/22763664.jpg

:)

metrofreak

February 9th, 2011, 04:32 AM

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3994/28022654.jpg
:nuts:

metrofreak

February 9th, 2011, 04:34 AM

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/1677/60527970.jpg

top: A view of South and North blocks from Government House (now Rshstrapati Bhavan). At the Delhi Durbarof 1911, King George V declared the capital of India would be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. The foundation stone was laid at Kingsway Camp(near Delhi University) but later the rocky ridge areas south of Shahjahanabad (now Old Delhi) was chosen for the Imperial city. The new city, which cost 13.07 crore rupees then, was inaugurated in 1931.

Courtesy - New Delhi , Making Of A Capital - Lustre Press, Roli Books

below left: The secretariat under construction. With work hampered by World War I, actual construction of most of the mammoth buildings was achieved in ab out 10 years. The city was officially named 'New Delhi' in 1926 and the capital inaugurated in 1931.

Pic courtesy - 'Alkazi Collection Of Photography

below right: The massive rocks of Raisina Hill were replaced by the imposing structures of the government buildings of New Delhi, where today, ministers, officials and clerks jostle for power.

Courtesy - New Delhi , Making Of A Capital - Lustre Press, Roli Books

:cheers:

metrofreak

February 9th, 2011, 04:35 AM

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/161/10699099.jpg

hope you enjoyed :)
just a request to all of you

if you quote and reply to any of the pictures from the ones I have just posted above, please remove the picture link...

some of us may not have enough bandwidth/internet speed and would like the pictures loaded only once , so please remove the picture from the quoted text

engineer.akash

March 4th, 2011, 07:37 AM

MYSORE- Samskruti NagarSome of the Mysore's old pics

Mysore Law courts 1890

http://img852.imageshack.us/img852/3926/oldmysore20101106102631.jpg (http://img852.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106102631.jpg/)

View of Mysore from Jagan Mohan Palace 1890

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/8066/oldmysore20101106103647.jpg (http://img828.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106103647.jpg/)

Old Palace 1855

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/2210/oldmysore20101106105190.jpg (http://img51.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106105190.jpg/)

The Public Offices 1890

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/777/oldmysore20101106106052.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106106052.jpg/)

Chamundi Hill 1856

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9431/oldmysore20101106107101.jpg (http://img822.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106107101.jpg/)

Chamundi Hill 1857

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/3667/oldmysore20101106113688.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106113688.jpg/)

Wellesly Bridge 1865

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/6994/oldmysore20101106120616.jpg (http://img847.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106120616.jpg/)

Lansdowne Bazaars 1890

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/4159/oldmysore20101106131327.jpg (http://img847.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106131327.jpg/)

Residency 1870

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/2467/oldmysore20101106133527.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106133527.jpg/)

Jagan Mohan Palace 1890

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/6493/oldmysore20101106141984.jpg (http://img703.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106141984.jpg/)

Interior of Karikal Thotti Palace 1890

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/815/oldmysore20101106146599.jpg (http://img823.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106146599.jpg/)

Memorial fountain

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/9483/oldmysore20101106148865.jpg (http://img855.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106148865.jpg/)

Oriental Library 1890

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8939/oldmysore20101106160139.jpg (http://img219.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106160139.jpg/)

Palace 1890

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5108/oldmysore20101106170636.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106170636.jpg/)

Sita Vilasa Chatram 1895

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/2145/oldmysore20101106182545.jpg (http://img854.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106182545.jpg/)

Maharani Girls College 1890

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5558/oldmysore20101106192408.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106192408.jpg/)

Marimallapas High School 1890

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/4034/oldmysore20101106206673.jpg (http://img143.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106206673.jpg/)

Devaraja Market 1890

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/8461/oldmysore20101106209780.jpg (http://img717.imageshack.us/i/oldmysore20101106209780.jpg/)

Palace 1890

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/2488/palace18902010110617367.jpg (http://img703.imageshack.us/i/palace18902010110617367.jpg/)

Source :- mastmysore.com (http://www.masthmysore.com/gallery/old-mysore-pics)

Old Hardinge Circle Mysore(1924)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5919/mta3.jpg (http://img88.imageshack.us/i/mta3.jpg/)

Tank and Hill view Mysore (Doddakere)

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8974/mta4.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/i/mta4.jpg/)

Elgin Fountain
It was located in the present K.R Circle area Which was later shifted near Bangalore Mysore Road

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1010/mta5h.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/i/mta5h.jpg/)

Mysore City 1916-1930

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/5613/mysorecityin1938.jpg (http://img827.imageshack.us/i/mysorecityin1938.jpg/)

Mysore City 1938

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/4392/mysorecitymap19161930.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/i/mysorecitymap19161930.jpg/)

Source:- MUDA (http://www.mudamysore.org/home.asp)

s.yogendra

March 4th, 2011, 02:19 PM

Mysore. Temple of Chamundee, with idol car

Photographer: Pigou, William Henry

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1856

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/5746/26510716.jpg (http://img846.imageshack.us/i/26510716.jpg/)

Chamundesvari Temple, Chamundi Hill, Mysore

Photographer: Unknown

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1895

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/3725/11450546.jpg (http://img713.imageshack.us/i/11450546.jpg/)

Summer Palace of the Maha Rajah of Mysore

Date: 1865

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/9310/18093788.jpg (http://img828.imageshack.us/i/18093788.jpg/)

Government House, Mysore.

Photographer: Unknown

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1890

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/9377/88030131.jpg (http://img268.imageshack.us/i/88030131.jpg/)

The Dasara Hall with Throne, Palace, Mysore.

Photographer: Unknown

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1890

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1322/13628130.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/i/13628130.jpg/)

Temple on the Shravana rock near Yelwall, Mysore

Photographer: Unknown

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1865

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/1723/21059095.jpg (http://img830.imageshack.us/i/21059095.jpg/)

The Temple Car, Chamundi Hill, Mysore.

Photographer: Unknown

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1890

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1412/40174793.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/40174793.jpg/)

View of Mysore. 1823 or between 1831 and 1837, during Cormack's residence in S. India

Artist: Cormack, Neil (fl. 1814-1837)

Medium: Watercolour

Date: 1830

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/5169/99278724.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/99278724.jpg/)

The Navagali or Fifth Day Ceremony of the Marriage [of the Maharaja of Mysore

Photographer: Unknown

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1900

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/6223/63654443.jpg (http://img121.imageshack.us/i/63654443.jpg/)

N.W. view of Seringapatam (Mysore)

Artist: unknown

Medium: Watercolour

Date: 1799

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/3417/73821635.jpg (http://img854.imageshack.us/i/73821635.jpg/)

The Raja of Mysore's bathing ghat on the River Puckshewan, a branch of the Cauvery at Shrirangapattana.

Photographer: Dixon, Henry

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1860

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8893/58860980.jpg (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/58860980.jpg/)

General Wellesley's House, Mysore.

Photographer: Unknown

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1890

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/3646/20215441.jpg (http://img716.imageshack.us/i/20215441.jpg/)

The Main Street, Mysore

Photographer: Unknown

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1895

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/1206/21528827.jpg (http://img854.imageshack.us/i/21528827.jpg/)

A walled town, S. India (probably Mysore) 112

Artist: Allan, Sir Alexander, 1st Baronet (1764-1820), attributed to

Medium: Watercolour

Date: 1790

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/493/96328673.jpg (http://img827.imageshack.us/i/96328673.jpg/)

Mysore. Colossal bull at Chamondee. [Chamundi.]

Photographer: Pigou, William Henry

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1856

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/5072/019pho0000965s1u0009700.jpg (http://img39.imageshack.us/i/019pho0000965s1u0009700.jpg/)

sidney_jec

March 9th, 2011, 05:36 AM

https://picasaweb.google.com/rupakkd/Calcutta1945AnAmericanMilitaryPhotoAlbumExcl#

Seems rupakd has uploaded them

Calcutta 1945: An American Military Photograph Album :~ `````````````````````````````````````````````````` The South Asia Section of the Van Pelt Library, University of Pennsylvania recently acquired from a bookdealer a photograph album consisting of 60 photographs of Calcutta taken most likely between 1945-1946. The photographer, Mr. Claude Waddell, also provided the interesting glosses accompanying each photograph. Several attested copies of this work has emerged including one with a 'title page' held by the Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. Mr. Waddell was a military photographer. Many of his captions sound like annotations that would be found in a typical military magazine. The album begins with several general long shots of Calcutta and ends with a picture of dhobi-s (washermen) washing clothes. The text accompanying the last photograph also sounds as if the author intended to finish with that picture of one of the "great mysteries of India." The annotation

Suncity

April 8th, 2011, 04:49 AM

A few decades old photos - when Kolkata was the "leading city" of India and transitioning into what we now call a laggard city. There was Bangladesh war, Naxalite rebellion, Chief Minister Siddharth Sankar Ray's killing spree, Commie rise, a cultural awakening from the throes of despair and so on...Some people still have lots of fairytale nostalgia about the great life in the city during those times. You get a glimpse of the small section of people who led a relatively good life in one of my favourite fims - Seemabaddha by Satyajit Ray

Kolkata 1967

photos not sure

What bus is that?

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/9711/kolkata1967carel1.jpg (http://img843.imageshack.us/i/kolkata1967carel1.jpg/)

This I am sure is MG Road/Burrabazar. It will probably never change much even if it is 2111

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/9936/kolkata1967carel2.jpg (http://img690.imageshack.us/i/kolkata1967carel2.jpg/)

Chowringhee

http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/8806/kolkata1967ayoreo105111.jpg (http://img806.imageshack.us/i/kolkata1967ayoreo105111.jpg/)

1970 Kolkata photos from LIFE

Bathing anywhere you please is still the norm in many parts of the city. Slum life probably hasn't changed much?

http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/6742/kolkataslum1970.jpg (http://img816.imageshack.us/i/kolkataslum1970.jpg/)

Cricket Crazy on main street - this probably happens in Bandh times nowadays. I have seen scenes like this in the area behind Lalbazar thana where people block streets on Sunday with impunity and play as if it is their mamabari!

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8328/kolkatacricket1970.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/i/kolkatacricket1970.jpg/)

The auto looks cool and there is Fiat taxi too!

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/1247/kolkata197011.jpg (http://img690.imageshack.us/i/kolkata197011.jpg/)

Lots of people! Whoever thought Kolkata's population would decrease one day? The predictors must be scratching their heads

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/9879/kolkata197010.jpg (http://img251.imageshack.us/i/kolkata197010.jpg/)

Trams and Rickshaws lead the traffic; One thing to note is those pesk autorickshaws are not wriggling through here and there.

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/385/kolkata19709.jpg (http://img715.imageshack.us/i/kolkata19709.jpg/)

Shyambazar!

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/3082/kolkata19705.jpg (http://img835.imageshack.us/i/kolkata19705.jpg/)

Bus "e badur jhola", footpath grabbing by hawkers - even the poriborter Hawa and promises of sushasan may not be able to change these things

http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/1231/kolkata19704d.jpg (http://img864.imageshack.us/i/kolkata19704d.jpg/)

Police hitching a ride? Also a dumpster truck

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/8310/kolkata19702.jpg (http://img687.imageshack.us/i/kolkata19702.jpg/)

School for street kids

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3397/kolakata19709.jpg (http://img690.imageshack.us/i/kolakata19709.jpg/)

Kolkata 1972

All photos copyright Kenneth Lyon

Howrah Bridge. Wonder if people carry umbrellas that much if it is not raining. The way they dug up footpaths shoddily is still the same. The rustic dress styles (half dhoti, half lungi and banyan) are still seen in these parts of Kolkata and Howrah. You can see a double decker bus!

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4769/kolkata1972kenneth.jpg (http://img96.imageshack.us/i/kolkata1972kenneth.jpg/)

Wondering if this is Strand Road off Howrah Bridge.

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/7786/kolkata1972kennethlyon6.jpg (http://img710.imageshack.us/i/kolkata1972kennethlyon6.jpg/)

Lots of bicycles

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/8184/kolkata1972kennethlyons.jpg (http://img851.imageshack.us/i/kolkata1972kennethlyons.jpg/)

Chowringhee? With a cow too!

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/8184/kolkata1972kennethlyons.jpg (http://img26.imageshack.us/i/kolkata1972kennethlyons.jpg/)

Where?

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/2659/kolkatakennethlyon5.jpg (http://img823.imageshack.us/i/kolkatakennethlyon5.jpg/)

zoxtannin

April 8th, 2011, 06:58 AM

Sun... simply awesome... so glad to see kolkata before my birth !

Suncity

May 9th, 2011, 07:47 PM

Some not too old photos of Kolkata when Metro Bhavan was u/c and Chatterjee International Centre was falling apart and the Park Street flyover was not yet constructed!

photo from here (https://picasaweb.google.com/117036637972465901694/India#5466297544969872770)

1
http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/9146/kolkataold1.jpg (http://img846.imageshack.us/i/kolkataold1.jpg/)

2
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/7659/kolkataold2.jpg (http://img36.imageshack.us/i/kolkataold2.jpg/)

bhargavsura

May 10th, 2011, 02:15 AM

Kolkatta has always been filthy. Don't know about now, but it has been more than any other cities I have been.

Suncity

May 10th, 2011, 03:23 AM

Kolkatta has always been filthy. Don't know about now, but it has been more than any other cities I have been.

Depends on the area. Most pictures of Kolkata seen are of the backpaker, missionary circuit and the old city areas (Just as you cannot judge Delhi by Paharganj or Mumbai by Dharavi). Kolkata is probably not any less or more filthy than a lot of major Indian cities.

Here's some pictures from forumer samrat_m which explore the parts of the city that rarely are captured by the missionary or the backpacker tourists.

https://picasaweb.google.com/108094285278243809386/KolkataUnplugged

SarafIndian

May 10th, 2011, 07:34 AM

Depends on the area. Most pictures of Kolkata seen are of the backpaker, missionary circuit and the old city areas (Just as you cannot judge Delhi by Paharganj or Mumbai by Dharavi). Kolkata is probably not any less or more filthy than a lot of major Indian cities.

Here's some pictures from forumer samrat_m which explore the parts of the city that rarely are captured by the missionary or the backpacker tourists.

https://picasaweb.google.com/108094285278243809386/KolkataUnplugged

Its not the case, all the missionary circuit and old city areas are bad/filthy. Most of these backpakers live only in cheap filthy places and they love to take filthy photos. No wonder their photos are ugly..:puke:

ChennaiIndian

July 17th, 2011, 08:26 PM

Cross-posting from Chennai thread. Courtesy: rsubbu.mdu

Classic collection of photos of Old old Madras:

Link:http://www.yogamayai.com/clasicMadras/jan.php

The Shell gas filling station pump is truly a classic! :cheers:

chennaidesi

July 17th, 2011, 08:37 PM

Excellent pictures.
Some images remainded me of Old London.

s.yogendra

August 16th, 2011, 09:12 PM

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/115/257288827_c20388181b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wobblyturkey/257288827/)
Madras- university senate house (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wobblyturkey/257288827/) by wobblyturkey (http://www.flickr.com/people/wobblyturkey/), on Flickr

gandhi.rushabh1992

August 10th, 2012, 07:25 AM

Ahmedabad

Sabarmati river, Ahmedabad late 1800's

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pCG_c3Rq788/SXoFLh_g80I/AAAAAAAAEwY/cyWy4J5BiYA/s400/women+washing+clothes.jpg

Potters

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7iSxLF66bs/TkLweE-OHXI/AAAAAAAALSg/qM-DoSGQmKE/s640/Potters+at+Ahmadabad+in+Gujarat+-+1873.jpg

Tile market in Ahmedabad, 1873

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SozM_wUf-Lg/TkRCnOLIbWI/AAAAAAAALS4/5nJgJSn8lB0/s640/Vintage+Photograph+of+a+Tile+maker+at+Ahmadabad+in+Gujarat+-+1873.jpg

A market scene

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N3wWFvf5WWs/UAEGsS5E_pI/AAAAAAAARf4/8NOF0U29EZE/s640/A+Market+Scene,+Ahmedabad,+Gujarat+-+1901.jpg

praveen salem

October 26th, 2012, 10:24 AM

Gandhi is very nice to see and i very happy to look old photos keep it up.

diwaligifts

November 27th, 2012, 11:16 AM

Wow !!! really this is a amazing picture collections.

chikanbarn

January 1st, 2013, 04:34 PM

Nice this is the really amazing collections of pictures.

holigifts

February 12th, 2013, 01:49 PM

Wow !!! really this is the very rare pictures collections.So thanks for share & keep it on.

Yagya

March 5th, 2013, 11:52 PM

A documentary by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting made in 1950 on Jaipur/Rajasthan.

CP8QpTLPt7w

PPJ

March 6th, 2013, 09:07 AM

Cross posting
Malabar Christain College 1906 rights reserved : Suresh Kumar , Kozhikodenz
http://i56.tinypic.com/331em2h.jpg

Calicut railway station 1901
http://i52.tinypic.com/1zd9clw.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/2zdxi0j.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/2z65vsh.jpg

manachira 1901 in color

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k589/jaivincalicut/327094_236015866448779_100001211035620_769322_1914657339_o.jpg

YMCA

http://i54.tinypic.com/2h67ybb.jpg

Calicut Beach

http://i51.tinypic.com/15ps3zt.jpg

Fort of Calicut 16th century portugeese description

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1700_1799/malabar/calicut/fortview.jpg

"Pagodas at Calicut," by Henry Salt, 1809 (with modern hand coloring)

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1700_1799/malabar/calicut/salt1809.jpg

"Calicut, on the Coast of Malabar," from James Forbes's Oriental Memoirs, London, 1813

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1700_1799/malabar/calicut/malabarforbes2.jpg

Vasco da Gama meets the Zamorin of Calicut in 1498;

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1700_1799/malabar/calicut/dagama.jpg

ruscelli 1574
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1700_1799/malabar/malabarmaps/ruscelli1574.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6204/6125143942_af3084481e_b.jpg

Ettanettan Tampuran, the Zamorin of Calicut

Creation Date:1828

http://www.sdmart.org/art/our-collection/asian-art

LIC building under construction

http://i41.tinypic.com/33wbqtg.jpg

Palayam subway under construction

http://i44.tinypic.com/6izl8l.jpg

pic from facebook , thanks to jamish