Francois Hollande reaches Chandigarh for his 3-day trip, heavy security deployed

Chandigarh: French President Francois Hollande reached Chandigarh on Sunday for his three-day visit to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be in Chandigarh to meet the French President at city's famous landmark - the Rock Garden.

Welcoming Hollande, Modi tweeted, "A warm welcome to French President Francois Hollande. We are honoured and delighted to have him as the Chief Guest for Republic Day celebrations. President Francois Hollande and I will meet in Chandigarh and Delhi. We will build on the ground covered during our previous interactions."

Hollande is the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations.

The duo will join CEOs from France and India at a business summit where at least 25 business heads from both the countries will attend the summit.

Hollande had expressed his desire to visit Chandigarh, one of the few planned cities in the country, designed by famous French architect Le Corbusier in the 1950s and 1960s.

President Hollande is likely to visit Chandigarh's 'Capitol Complex', Sector 17 Plaza (the city's commercial and business centre), Tagore Theatre and the Le Corbusier Centre in Sector 19.

The French Ambassador to India had recently visited the city in preparation for the president's visit.

Sources said the French President will stay at the Taj Hotel in Chandigarh's Sector 17 area for the few hours that he will be in the city.

(With additional information from agencies)