Acting US Ambassador Kathleen Stephens expressed hope that relationship between America and India will further strengthen under the present Narendra Modi dispensation and open new avenues to achieve peace and harmony.

Stephens arrived on her three day visit to temple city Varanasi.

On the first day of her visit, she went to the Banaras Hindu University and met Vice-Chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi.

She also held interactions with students and the faculty members there, a statement from BHU said.

"The US Ambassador to India Kathleen Stephens while interacting with students and faculty members in BHU expressed her hope that under the present dispensation in India the relationship between the US and India shall further strengthen and shall open a new horizon in achieving peace and harmony," the statement said.

Stephens also visited the Dashashwamedh ghat and attended Ganga aarti.

In Varanasi, which is the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speculations were rife that the US President Barack Obama, who will be the chief guest on Republic Day, may also visit the temple town.