India, May 5 -- Gurugram's skyline glints with mirrored facades, soaring office towers, and luxury condominiums-symbols of aspiration in a globalising India. But to many long-time residents, such as Rajesh Bhardwaj, the city's transformation feels oddly disorienting. Visitors often tell him it reminds them of Dubai. "And I wonder why that is a compliment," he asks. "Shouldn't Gurugram feel like Gurugram?"

Across the country-from Bengaluru and Pune to New Town Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad-a similar story of uniformity is unfolding. Cities are morphing into indistinguishable zones of glass-and-steel high-rises, all derived from the same architectural catalogue.

At first glance, you could be in Dubai. Or Singapore. Or anywhere, really....