India has always been a lucrative destination for foreigners who flocked to the country as pilgrims, students, merchants and, eventually, rulers. These foreigners, the so-called "par-deshi," colonized different parts of the Indian subcontinent and radically changed these regions socially, culturally, economically, politically and even geographically according to their own convenience.

Chandannagar, located at a geographically strategic location on the western bank of the Hooghly river in Bengal, was recognised by the French traders for its immense commercial potential. What once was a lush but rural agricultural countryside, was transformed into the bustling modern town that it is now by the French. The lifestyle of the native people of Chandannagar underwent changes as they became associated with their French rulers and foreign trade.

This book attempts to highlight the impact of the change due to this cultural exchange on the various architecture that creates the charm of Chandannagar.