In preceding periods, with foreigners establishing their foothold in Western India, Gujarat became their important base and as they settled on the coastal towns their establishments generated their building structures for their work and other purposes. George Oxinder’s mausoleum at Surat, built in mid 17th century is one of the earliest and few surviving structures built by the english in Western India. This structure is a reference book of how foreigners absorbed local culture and integrated the same with their own traditions. The kind of fusion which emerged became a strong breakthrough for the succeeding period and ultimately out of this evolved the colonial architecture in India. Note the double layered structure with an open cross dome and the corner minarets which have purely visual function. The stucco details gave full freedom to the local crafts and the imagery completely loaded with dual meanings and expression to commemorate the deceased.

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