Mountain Spirits of Spiti: A Radio Documentary for BBC’s Heart and Soul
We are very excited to announce the broadcast of Mountain Spirits of Spiti, a radio documentary for the BBC’s Heart and Soul! Dr. Orton tells us more…
Mountain Spirits of Spiti is about the hidden Himalayas; the things that can’t be seen. Biyul (hidden lands) coexist with the mundane world; some villagers have seen and entered them. Balu Thukangbu is a wish-granting being who is one foot tall, wears a one-foot-tall hat and carries a one-foot-tall stick. Lhas are local deities who can be called upon for help. And there is also the larpe: like a lha, but who kidnaps and hides people.
I’ve been travelling to Spiti Valley, in India’s high-altitude Himalayas, for over a decade, researching local folklore and wildlife narratives. At 12,000-15,000 feet above sea level, Spiti is heartbreakingly beautiful: sweeping mountain slopes, rugged edges and breath-taking drops into the valleys. It is also home to the elusive snow leopard. People here are Tibetan Buddhists, and local religion survives alongside Buddhist beliefs.
This documentary couldn’t have been made without the support of local people. We will hear from residents who have seen or experienced the hidden Himalayas and learn how ancient traditions live alongside modern technology. Listen to enchanting Himalayan music, haunting mountain winds and rituals that call for snow in Mountain Spirits of Spiti.
With many thanks to Whistledown Productions (in particular Sasha Edye-Lindner, Jill Achineku and Robert Nicholson) with whom I collaborated on the documentary.
The documentary will be broadcast on the 25th September 2026. Click the link to listen to Mountain Spirits of Spiti!
In our next post, learn more about the local people who made the documentary possible!
Find Out More
To learn more about Dr. Orton’s research in the Himalayas, click the link to read her blog posts in our People and wildlife in South Asia series! Dr. Orton has posts on the snow leopards of Spiti, legends of Spiti’s hidden lands, and Spiti’s history in the Tibetan Empire.
Also, don’t visit Spiti before reading what locals want you to know about how to go beyond the bucket list and find the real Spiti!
There are also academic lectures on Dr. Orton’s fieldwork in the Himalayas on our Research Page.
If you’re interested in tutorials with Dr. Orton, she offers online, one-on-one tutorials that are based around your learning or research needs. This ranges from ad hoc tutorials to gain an understanding of the academic literature, research proposal feedback and development, or regular, ongoing support. To find out more about the anthropology and folklore of the Himalayas, take a look at our Anthropology courses on Tibetan and Himalayan Studies, Himalayan Folklore and Religion of the Himalayas. Our interdisciplinary course on Culture and Conservation will give you an insight into the link between wildlife and anthropology.
These courses are templates of possible routes of study and can be combined, adapted, or designed from scratch to suit your interests and goals. Dr. Orton will work with you to design a course of private tutorials tailored to your needs, ability and schedule – whether you are undertaking your own research for an independent project, writing a book or simply have a personal interest. Click the link to find out what it’s like to work with Dr. Orton.
Contact us to find out more!
Undertake Your Own Research Project
Working on your own independent research project needn’t be a lonely task: Dr. Orton works with other independent scholars on projects in conservation and the humanities. Contact us for a chat with her.
If you’re not ready to reach out yet, follow our research methods series on this blog for more ideas! Dr. Orton has written posts on the importance of independent research and how to get started with building your own approach to ethical, people-centred fieldwork.
Reach Out
Follow us on Orton Academy Instagram to see pictures from Dr. Orton’s fieldwork in the Himalayas and the Sundarbans – we would love to connect with you!
