Himalayan Hideaways

The documentary Living Sanctuaries: The Monasteries of Zanskar has been crafted to showcase the stunning buildings and communities of the Western Himalaya. High in the Zanskar Valley, centuries of Buddhist practice, extreme climate, and geographic isolation have shaped a distinct architectural tradition. This film follows an architecture and engineering firm on a research expedition to chart these structures and engage with the people who sustain them.

Through fieldwork, reflection, and local voices, the documentary examines the complexities of preserving history, devotion, and architecture in these unique monasteries and nunneries. The screening at the Electric Palace Hastings on Sunday, 22 November 2026, will include two short films, A Phone Call and Lobsang on Camera, and a Q&A with Dr John Harrison, a historical conservation architect with over 30 years of experience in the Western Himalaya.

Tickets are with the button beside the article, so be sure to secure your spot for this UK premiere and Q&A session at the Electric Palace Hastings in Hastings on Sunday, 22 November 2026.