Journal Report: Day 1 of the Immersion Program at Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

 Date: 13 March 2026

Day 1 of my immersion program began with an international journey from Paro International Airport in Paro, Bhutan. I travelled on Bhutan Airlines from Paro to Delhi via Kathmandu. Although the trip was planned carefully, the journey experienced unexpected delays which made the first day both challenging and memorable.

The flight from Paro was delayed by about one hour. After reaching Kathmandu, the flight experienced another delay of approximately one hour and thirty minutes before continuing the journey. Due to these delays, we eventually landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi at around 4:00 PM.

From Delhi, we were scheduled to take a connecting flight to Ahmedabad. However, because of the earlier delays, our group unfortunately missed the transit flight. Our participants were divided into four groups, and alternative travel arrangements had to be made.

The air tickets were re-issued through coordination between two government agencies, and the flights were re-booked with different airlines including IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India to ensure that everyone could reach the destination as soon as possible.

As a result of the re-arrangements, two groups managed to travel to Ahmedabad on a late-night flight from Delhi. They arrived at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at around 2:50 AM. After completing arrival procedures, we travelled to the university campus and finally reached Pandit Deendayal Energy University at approximately 3:40 AM.

The remaining two groups stayed overnight in Delhi and travelled to Ahmedabad the following day due to the limited availability of seats on the immediate flights.

Although the first day involved long waiting hours, flight delays, and unexpected changes in travel plans, the experience demonstrated the importance of coordination, patience, and flexibility during international travel. Despite the fatigue, arriving at the campus in the early hours of the morning marked the beginning of a valuable academic immersion experience.

This first day set the stage for the upcoming activities and learning opportunities at Pandit Deendayal Energy University, where we look forward to engaging in academic discussions, collaborative learning, and exposure to new educational environments.