A fascinating legend surrounds the existence of these cave temples: it is said that during his self-mortification, Gautama the Buddha grew incredibly weak and starved to death. He was given food and water by a woman called Sujata from a neighbouring hamlet at the time. Later, Gautama came to understand that self-indulgence or self-abasement are not the paths to enlightenment. After that, he continued on his trip and eventually arrived at Bodhgaya, where he obtained nirvana. A 6-foot-tall golden Buddha statue may be seen in one of the area's cave temples. Visits to these old cave temples in Gaya are a must if you want to get the full Buddhist experience.