Eras

Prehistoric

Ancient

Medieval

Modern

People

From History

Cultural Icons

Women In history

Explorers

Writers

Rulers

Freedom fighters

Quirky History

Places

Regions

Cities

Geology and Natural History

Monuments

Religious Places

Forts

Palaces

Caves

Heritage Sites

Archaeological Sites

Living Culture

Handcrafted For You

Food History

Festivals

Arts of India

Weaves of India

Literature 

Folklore and Mythology

Art History

Sculptures

Jewels

Paintings

Coins

Artefacts

Heritage Matters

State of our Monuments

Conservation

Revival 

One of thousands of rock carvings or petroglyphs in the Konkan, in Maharashtra. Probably made by hunter-gatherers 10,000 years ago, they are scattered on hilltops, in fields and even on roadsides. Archaeologists are yet to unlock their secrets.


Konkan’s Mysterious Rock Art

In the early 20th century, guests of Maharaja Madho Rao Scindia of Gwalior were given a special after-dinner treat. This silver toy train would chug along mini tracks on the banquet table, halting to serve cigars, wine and liqueur!


 A Halt For Wine & Cigars

The Great Wall of China is a well-known wonder, but did you know that India’s own Kumbhalgarh fort wall, is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the longest fort wall in the world?

Kumbhalgarh fort wall, is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the longest fort wall in the world

Kumbhalgarh: The Great Wall of India

During World War I, bicycles often replaced horses to move troops, goods & even messengers. The invention of the pneumatic tyre & sturdy bicycle frames made the Bicycle Infantry an alternative to the cavalry. Here are Indian troops at Somme, France.


During World War I, bicycles often replaced horses to move troops, goods & as messengers. The invention of the pneumatic tyre & sturdy bicycle frames made the Bicycle Infantry an alternative to the cavalry. Here are Indian troops at Somme, France.

Indian Bicycle Troops During World War I

The oldest depiction of a tree in art is a tree native to India, the Peepul tree. The Harappans held it sacred as is evident from this Mohenjo-daro seal from around 2500 BCE. It is also the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. 

The oldest depiction of a tree in art is a tree native to India, the Peepul tree. The Harappans held it sacred as is evident from this  Mohenjodaro seal from around 2500 BCE. It is also the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. 

A Seal of Peepul Tree from Mohenjodaro

A Seal of Peepul Tree from Mohenjo-daro

Members of the first Cabinet of India sharing a meal. This picture was taken in June 1948 when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel threw a luncheon to celebrate the appointment of C Rajagopalachari as the first Indian Governor-General.

Members of the First Cabinet of India Sharing a Meal

In 1882, French silversmiths crafted a silver bed 'with four life-size bronze figures painted in flesh colour with natural hair, movable eyes and arms, holding fans’. This bizarre contraption was for the 20-year-old Nawab of Bahawalpur, Punjab.

The Bizarre Silver Bed of the Nawab of Bahawalpur

The Indian flag is hoisted for the first time atop the tallest mountain in the world, Mt Everest, on 20th May 1965. Planting the flag are Lt Col Avatar Cheema and Nawang Gombu Sherpa. With this, India became only the fourth country to summit Everest


The Indian flag is hoisted for the first time atop the tallest mountain in the world, Mt Everest, on 20th May 1965. Planting the flag are Lt Col Avatar Cheema and Nawang Gombu Sherpa. With this, India became only the fourth country to summit Everest.

Indian Flag Being Hoisted for the First Time on Mt. Everest 

A class photo in the 1860s! The London Mission Girls' Boarding School was the first school for girls in Mysore, a pioneer in modern education. Opened in Bangalore in 1840, it is now on Mission Road and is called Mitralaya Girls’ High School.


A Class Photo In the 1860s

Probably one of the most peculiar boats ever designed in India, this fish-shaped craft was made for the Nawabs of Awadh. It is resting on the banks of the Gomti with Chhatar Manzil in Lucknow as the backdrop. (Photo by Felice Beato, 1858 – 1860).

A Peculiar Boat Made for the Nawabs of Awadh

Unable to defeat Malik Ambar, Mughal Emperor Jahangir commissioned this allegorical fantasy of him shooting an arrow through his enemy's severed head. Painted by Abu'l Hasan in 1616 CE, it tells us how the African General was Jahangir’s nemesis.

A Painting of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir Attacking his Enemy

This 2nd-century BCE miniature is among the earliest-known representations in metal of a goddess with weapons radiating from her hair. Made of copper alloy, it is believed to have been made in the Ganga basin, probably in Pataliputra (Patna).

Goddess with Weapons Radiating from her Hair

The ruins of one of the greatest universities in the subcontinent, Vikramshila Mahavihara, in Bihar. Founded by Pala Emperor Dharmapala in 8th-9th century CE, it attracted students from all over and was a renowned centre of Buddhist Tantra studies.


Ruins of Vikramshila Mahavihara

This was the drawing room of Asman Jah, Prime Minister of Hyderabad (1887 - 1894). It was the pride of the Bashir Bagh Palace, which has been dismantled but lent its name to the area where it stood. This image was taken by Deen Dayal in the 1880s.

Drawing room of Asman Jah

Immortalised on canvas is Maharani Sanyogita Devi of Indore (wife of Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II). Notice the intricate details of her attire and jewellery in this life-like painting by French artist Bernard Boutet de Monvel in 1934.

Painting of Maharani Sanyogita Devi of Indore

Shocking images of Japanese soldiers using Indian PoWs for target practice in World War II. The Japanese were known for their barbaric torture of Allied troops duing the war. The British found these pictures when they retook Singapore in 1945.



Japanese Soldiers using Indian PoWs for Target Practice

This ‘Banquet hall’ is the 1,500-year-old Main Cave at Elephanta, where a grand feast was hosted for Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) in 1875. Around 400 guests attended the gala in the rock-cut caves off the Mumbai coast.


This ‘banquet hall’ is the 1,500-year-old Main Cave at Elephanta, where a grand feast was hosted for Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) in 1875. Around 400 guests attended the gala in the rock-cut caves off the Mumbai coast.

'Banquet hall' at Elephanta

Sarla Thukral married into a family of pilots, trained at the Lahore Flying Club and was the first woman in India to earn a pilot’s licence, in 1936. She was only 21 then. Here she is with the Gypsy Moth she flew solo.



India’s first woman with wings.

Sarla Thukral-India’s first woman with wings.

Anandi Joshi (1865-87), India’s 1st woman doctor, with Kei Okami (Japan) & Sabat Islambooly (Syria), the 1st women from their countries to earn a degree in Western medicine from a Western university, the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania.


Anandi Joshi (1865-87), India’s 1st woman doctor, with Kei Okami (Japan) & Sabat M. Islambooly (Ottoman Syria), the 1st women from their countries to earn a degree in Western medicine from a Western university, the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania.

Anandibai Joshi- India's first woman doctor

The first selfie? Find Maharaja Bir Chandra Manikya Dev Burman of Tripura along with his wife Monmohini Devi. This is one of the earliest-known Indian self-portraits or ‘selfies’ in today’s parlance. Shot circa 1880, the couple strikes a cozy pose. 


One of the earliest-known Indian 'selfie' 

Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner (centre-right), in the 'The Signing of Peace in the Hall of Mirrors, Versailles 1919' by William Orpen. He was a signatory to the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, which ended World War I, on behalf of British India.

Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner 

The excavation site of Sarnath, near Banaras, in 1905. In the centre is the famous Lion Capital, or top of the Ashokan pillar, that inspired India’s State Emblem. Other major artefacts were discovered like this sandstone Buddha from the Gupta period.

Excavation site of Sarnath

Excavation Site of Sarnath

No one had seen anything like him when Ganda, an Indian rhinoceros, reached Europe! He was sent by Gujarat's Sultan Muzaffar Shah II In 1514 CE, to the Portuguese Viceroy Alfonso de Albuquerque. He, in turn, sent it to King Manuel of Portugal. 



Best of Peepul Tree - Our History Shop

Terracotta Harappan Pashupati Seal Replica with Frame

Handmade Harappan Dancing Girl Replica in Dhokra Metal

MARBLE INLAY ROSELLE COASTER

Lippan White Wall Mirror

Terracotta Harappan Pashupati Seal Replica with Frame

Handmade Harappan Dancing Girl Replica in Dhokra Metal

MARBLE INLAY ROSELLE COASTER

Lippan White Wall Mirror

Terracotta Harappan Pashupati Seal Replica with Frame

Handmade Harappan Dancing Girl Replica in Dhokra Metal

MARBLE INLAY ROSELLE COASTER

Lippan White Wall Mirror