Hyderabad, Dec 25 (IANS): President of India Pratibha Patil Sunday reached Hyderabad for her 11-day southern sojourn.

She arrived at Begumpet airport by a special Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft and drove straight to Rashtrapathi Nilayam, the former Residency House at Bolarum in Secunderabad.

Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and senior officials received the President at the airport.

During her sojourn, the President would also visit the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Nellore district. She would meet Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists and officials and acquaint herself with the progress of the space programmes.

Police have made elaborate security arrangements for the President's stay at Rashtrapathi Nilayam.

The building was constructed in 1860 as the country house of the British Resident at Secunderabad. After Hyderabad state's accession to India in 1948, it became the President's retreat.