Good morning! In this special weekend edition of 11:11, we begin in the Himalayas as Char Dham 2026 dates are locked and Jammu & Kashmir brings more tourist spots back on the map, while Delhi’s Red Fort drops its Monday closure. From glowing shorelines and Bangladesh resuming visa services for Indians to the changing grammar of luxury, here’s your Sunday read.
Kedarnath to reopen April 22; Char Dham dates announced
The doors of Kedarnath Dham will reopen to devotees on April 22, 2026, marking the start of this year’s Char Dham pilgrimage season in Uttarakhand. The shrine will open at 8 am on an auspicious Mahashivratri-decided muhurat, with T Gangadhar Ling appointed as chief priest for the season. Dates for Badrinath Temple, Gangotri and Yamunotri have also been announced.
Red Fort now open all week
Delhi’s iconic Red Fort will no longer shut its gates on Mondays. Following a new order by the Archaeological Survey of India, the Mughal-era monument will now remain open seven days a week, giving visitors an extra day to explore its palaces, museums and historic courtyards. Built by Shah Jahan in the 17th century, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is open from sunrise to 9 pm.
Jammu and Kashmir reopens 14 tourist spots shut after Pahalgam attack
Nearly a year after the Pahalgam terror attack prompted widespread closures, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has reopened 14 more tourist destinations following a fresh security review. With this, the total number of operational tourist sites across the Union Territory rises to 26.
Eight Indian beaches where bioluminescence has been spotted
From Mumbai to Lakshadweep, rare flashes of electric-blue waves have lit up India’s shores over the years. Caused by microscopic marine organisms that emit light when disturbed, bioluminescence is unpredictable, but unforgettable if you catch it. Beaches where the phenomenon has been reported include Juhu Beach in Mumbai, Bangaram Island in Lakshadweep, Thiruvanmiyur Beach in Chennai, Radhanagar Beach in the Andamans, Mattu and Padukere beaches in Karnataka, Bheemili Beach in Andhra Pradesh, and Betalbatim Beach in Goa. Sightings depend on plankton blooms, tides and weather, and are best viewed on dark, moonless nights, making timing and a bit of luck essential for witnessing nature’s own light show.
Ancient Rome on a slice: Budapest pizzeria’s time-travel pie
In Budapest, Neverland Pizzeria is taking diners back 2,000 years with a Roman Empire-inspired “pizza” — made without tomatoes or mozzarella. Founder Josep Zara and his team recreated an ancient flatbread using einkorn and spelt grains, fermented spinach juice, olive paste, garum, confit duck, pine nuts and grape reduction. Inspired by a Pompeii fresco and ancient Roman cookbooks, the limited-edition pie swaps modern comforts for historical curiosity, offering a taste of what oven-baked flatbreads might have looked (and tasted) like long before Naples popularised pizza.
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Bangladesh resumes full visa services for Indians
Bangladesh has restarted all visa and consular services for Indian nationals, marking an early diplomatic reset after Tarique Rahman’s swearing-in as Prime Minister. Tourist, medical, business and work visas are now being processed again at missions across India, after a suspension in December 2025. The move is expected to ease cross-border travel and trade, particularly for business travellers and families with ties on both sides.
Kerala extends bar hours to boost tourism, sparks backlash
Kerala has extended operating hours for bars, beer and wine parlours by two hours, allowing outlets to stay open till midnight, while five-star bar hotels can now serve liquor until 3 am for an additional fee. The government says the move is aimed at promoting MICE tourism and destination weddings. The decision, however, has drawn criticism from the Opposition and church groups, with March 8 set to be observed as “Anti-Alcohol Sunday” in protest.
The future of luxury is wellbeing
For decades, business success was defined by endurance — long hours, constant travel and chronic fatigue worn like a badge of honour. That grammar is changing. With mounting evidence linking overwork to serious health risks, wellbeing is no longer aspirational, it’s strategic. As the global wellness economy surges, retreats like Dharana at Shillim and Ananda in the Himalayas are seeing growing interest from entrepreneurs and senior executives seeking sustainable performance, not just rest. In high-stakes roles where clarity and judgment shape outcomes, stamina is no longer assumed, it’s invested in.
Kennedy movie review: A grim, operatic Mumbai requiem
Three years after its Cannes premiere, Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy finally arrives for Indian audiences, a brooding noir about a presumed-dead cop turned assassin drifting through a decaying Mumbai. Starring Rahul Bhat, Sunny Leone and Mohit Takalkar, the ZEE5 release leans heavily into stylised violence, Tchaikovsky-backed melancholy and existential dread. The result is visually striking and tonally ambitious, but also indulgent — a film that interrogates revenge and corruption without always breaking new ground.
Abundantia Entertainment, invideo partner to launch ₹100 crore AI-driven film studio
AI’s role in cinema is moving from experimentation to big-budget ambition. Abundantia Entertainment has partnered with generative-video platform invideo to launch an AI-powered studio backed by a ₹100 crore investment, with plans to produce five AI-driven films over the next three years, including upcoming mythological titles like Chiranjeevi Hanuman and Jai Santoshi Mata.