Varanasi, Sep 23 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening visited the famous Tulsi Manas and Durga Kund temples here and offered his prayers.

Accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Modi sought to know detailed information about the Manas temple, which was inaugurated by then President Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan in 1964.

The temple draws thousands of devotees every year. Behind a stone named 'Manas', there are five books kept with Ram-Ram written on it by people. The Prime Minister, a staunch devotee of Goddess Durga and who is on a nine-day Navratri fast, also offered prayers at the ancient Durga Kund temple.

Modi was informed by its priests of the temple that it was built by King Sudarshan and was renovated in the 17th century by Queen Bhawani.

Earlier in the day, soon after arriving in the temple town, also his parliamentary constituency, Modi inaugurated 17 projects and laid foundation stones of six others.

He will see the famous 'Subh-e-Benaras' on Saturday morning and has some other events to attend before he flies back to the national capital around noon. For the night he is staying at the DLW guest house.