(13:35)  Chandigarh, Jan 24 French President Francois Hollande arrived here on Sunday on a three-day visit during which he will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Punjabi bhangra dancers performed to drum beats as Hollande stepped out of the aircraft. Kaptan Singh Solanki, the governor of Punjab and Haryana, received him formally along with other officials.

Moments earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India was "honoured and delighted" to welcome Hollande.

"A warm welcome to Hollande. We are honoured and delighted to have him as the chief guest for Republic Day celebrations," Modi tweeted.

"Hollande and I will meet in Chandigarh and Delhi," Modi added. "We will build on the ground covered during our previous interactions."

Chandigarh was under maximum security cover ahead of Hollande's arrival.