Old Hypsometric Map of Southern India by Bartholomew, 1922: Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Western Ghats, Deccan

2026-04-11T04:14:37+01:00

Price: 0.00 - 1975.00 (42 variants)

India - Southern Section is a masterful snapshot of a subcontinent in transition, rendered in 1922 for The Times atlas by The Edinburgh Geographical Institute and John Bartholomew & Co. It gathers the southern sweep of the peninsula—Bombay’s western approaches through the Deccan plateau to the Coromandel and Malabar coasts—into a lucid synthesis of politics and terrain. Hypsometric tints bathe the escarpments and plateaux in graduated color, while bathymetric shading deepens the surrounding seas, and spot heights lend a scientific precision to the relief. Shipping routes arc across the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, annotated with distances that tether inland cities to far-flung ports, conveying the commercial geography that shaped early twentieth-century India.

At the helm stands John George Bartholomew, the visionary cartographer whose imprint on modern mapmaking is indelible. Under his direction, the Edinburgh school refined color systems for landforms and seas, normalized the use of spot heights, and harmonized aesthetics with empirical rigor. This sheet exemplifies that philosophy: physical forms read at a glance, political boundaries remain unambiguous, and maritime information integrates seamlessly with terrestrial detail. The map’s inclusion in The Times atlas marked a pivotal moment, bringing Bartholomew’s high-precision style to a broad audience and affirming the atlas as a trusted reference for scholars, navigators, and administrators alike.

The geography unfurls in rich relief: the Western Ghats rise like a rampart above the Konkan and Malabar littorals; the Nilgiri and Palni Hills stand out as cool highland nodes; and the Deccan spreads southeastward in stratified tints that trace altitude with painterly logic. Major rivers—Krishna and Tungabhadra, Kaveri and its tributaries, the Pennar, Periyar, and Vaigai—run clearly labeled, their courses reading as both lifelines and natural boundaries. Offshore, bathymetric gradations reveal the contour of continental shelves, the shoals between the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, and the safer lanes favored by steamship traffic. The depiction turns topography into narrative, showing how mountain spines, rain shadows, and river systems structure settlement, agriculture, and exchange.

Cities anchor this narrative with historical resonance. Bombay (Mumbai) faces westward toward imperial sea lanes; Madras (Chennai) opens to the monsoon swells of the Bay of Bengal; Cochin (Kochi) and the backwaters punctuate the pepper coast; inland, Bangalore and Mysore punctuate the plateau, while Hyderabad’s great arc of influence spreads across the Deccan. The political geography is crystalline: the Madras and Bombay Presidencies juxtaposed with the princely states of Mysore, Hyderabad, Travancore, and Cochin, their borders sharply drawn to reflect the administrative mosaic of the time. A finely rendered inset of the Bombay region allows closer inspection of harbors, approaches, and hinterland connections, emphasizing how coastal gateways articulate with interior routes.

Historically, this map captures a high point in early twentieth-century geographical knowledge, where improved surveys, standardized symbology, and rigorous editing converge. It incorporates corrections first issued in 1920, evidence of the Institute’s habit of refining data as new measurements appeared, and it fuses land and sea into a single intelligible system. The hypsometric and bathymetric palettes are not mere ornament; they are analytical tools, clarifying gradients, passes, and shelves that mattered to engineers, soldiers, merchants, and travelers. In Bartholomew’s hands, Southern India becomes at once comprehensible and compelling—a scientifically grounded portrait whose clarity, restraint, and quiet elegance still speak with authority today.

Cities and towns on this map

Chennai (Madras): 7,088,000

Bangalore: 8,773,000

Hyderabad: 6,731,000

Mumbai (Bombay): 12,442,000

Kochi (Cochin): 673,000

Tiruchirappalli (Trichy): 1,000,000

Mysore: 1,080,000

Notable Features & Landmarks

Hypsometric tints illustrating varying elevations.

Spot heights marking prominent elevations.

Bathymetric tints showing depths in bodies of water.

Shipping routes with distances indicated.

A detailed inset map of the Bombay region.

Major rivers labeled throughout the map.

Historical and design context

Title: India - Southern Section

Publication Details: Produced by The Edinburgh Geographical Institute and John Bartholomew & Co., published in London as part of "The Times" atlas in 1922.

Mapmaker: John George Bartholomew, a notable cartographer who contributed extensively to advancements in mapping techniques during the early 20th century.

Regions Shown: Southern India, including the Bombay region.

Themes: Political and physical geography features prominently.

The map features a correction page from the 1920 edition, showing attention to accuracy.

Represents early 20th-century geographical knowledge.

Marks a transition in cartography practice with the introduction of Bartholomew’s maps in The Times atlas.

Reflects evolving practices in cartographic representation, enhancing the reliability and aesthetic quality of the maps.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.