Indian Subcontinent: Figure 2. The giant rimstone dam made of travertine nearly 10m high that retains one of the series of lakes at Band-i-Amir in Afghanistan. (Photo by Bill Renshaw)

Further south, Tertiary limestones in the large basins of Kurnool, Cuddapah, Bhima, and Kalagdi, crop out across almost 2000 km2 on the Deccan Plateau. This area, like almost all Indian karst, is only partly explored (Gebauer & Abele, 1985), but does contain some abandoned river caves, the longest of which is Belum Guhalu at 3225 m. The caves are largely infilled by clastic sediments, except those that have developed into a senile stage of cave destruction (Ruggieri, 1998). In the north, limestone is widespread throughout the Indian Himalaya, but karst development is limited. The Vale of Kashmir has some major karst resurgences (with temples built around them) and the famous Hindu shrine of Amarnath Cave is a rock shelter in thick limestone north of the Vale, but there is no known major cave development. The hills between Simla to Chakrata are known for their many potholes, including Lower Swift Hole that reaches a depth of 70 m.