TeresaGuercio23 at 06:33, 8 January 2026

2026-01-08T06:33:40Z

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{{Short description|Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Ladakh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox Tibetan Buddhist monastery
|name = Korzok Monastery
|image =Korzok Gompa, Korzok Village, Rupshu Valley, Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, India - 26.08.09.jpg
|alt =
|caption = Korzok Gompa
|map_type = Ladakh#India
|coordinates = {{coord|32.965758|78.253374|type:landmark_region:IN-JK|display=inline}}
|map_caption = Location within India
|location= [[Korzok]], on the western bank of the lake, [[Tso Moriri]] in [[Leh District]], [[Ladakh]]
|founded_by = Kunga Lodro Ningpo
|sect =
|dedicated_to =
|head_lama =
|architecture = [[Tibet]]an [[Architecture]]
|festivals= Korzok Gu-stor
|footnotes =
}}

'''Korzok''', དཀོར་མཛོད་ (wylie dkor-mdzod) is a [[Tibetan Buddhist]] monastery belonging to the [[Drukpa Lineage]]. It is located in the [[Korzok]] village, on the northwestern bank of [[Tso Moriri]], a lake in [[Leh District]] of [[Ladakh]], a [[union territory]] of India. The [[gompa]] ([[monastery]]), at {{convert|4560|m|ft}}, houses a [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] and other statues. It is home to about seventy monks.<ref name=Ramsar>{{cite web |date=20 December 2002 |url= https://www.ramsar.org/news/india-designates-eleven-new-wetlands-international-importance |title= India designates eleven new Wetlands of International Importance |access-date=20 November 2023 |website=Ramsar}}</ref>

In the past, the monastery was the headquarters of the [[Rupshu|Rupshu Valley]]. It is an independent monastery under Korzok Rinpoche, widely known as Langna Rinpoche. The third Korzok Rinpoche, Kunga Lodro Ningpo was the founder of Korzok Monastery.

The monastery is 300 years old. The Tso Moriri below it is also held in reverence and considered equally sacred by the local people. With the efforts of the [[WWF-India]], Tso Moriri has been pledged as a 'Sacred Gift for a Living Planet' by the local community (mostly [[Chang pa]] herdsmen). As a result, the area has been opened up for tourists.<ref name=wwf>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/freshwater_wetlands/our_work/ramsar_sites/tsomoriri.cfm |title=Tsomoriri |access-date=2009-11-21 |website=WWF India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302045719/http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/freshwater_wetlands/our_work/ramsar_sites/tsomoriri.cfm |archive-date=2 March 2009 }}</ref>

==Etymology==
The name ''Korzok'' is a derivation from two words, namely {{Transliteration|lbj|kor}} meaning a 'place' in the [[Ladakhi language]] and {{Transliteration|lbj|zok}} which is said to derive from {{Transliteration|lbj|dzot-pa}}, meaning 'manager'. Over time, the sound of the final consonant of the {{Transliteration|lbj|dzot}} element has changed to the [[velar consonant]] {{IPA|[k]}} instead of the original [[alveolar consonant|alveolar]] {{IPA|[t]}}.<ref name=Jina/>{{failed verification|date=November 2023}}

An alternative attribution is that shepherds working for the monasteries in the nearby hamlets kept the king's cattle at this place, not only to tend them but to also extract milk, cheese and butter. Hence, the place came to be known as "Korzok".{{explain|date=November 2023}} It is said that the [[nomads]] were exploited by the monastery as they were paid very meagre amounts for the services rendered. Hence the place was given the name 'Korzok' (meaning: acquired by unfair means).<ref name=Jina/>{{failed verification|date=November 2023}}

==History==
The history of Korzok is traced back to kings who ruled in the inhospitable terrain and fought several wars. They suffered several setbacks in wars and had to lead a nomadic life in isolation. One of the kings of this nomadic lineage had sent his emissary to [[Tibet]] seeking help. He brought a [[Lama]] from Tibet who established the monastery at Korzok about 300 years ago. Since then the nomads preferred to change their animistic religion and adopt to [[Buddhism]]. They preferred living peacefully and in harmony with their surroundings and animals. The reign of the nomadic kingdom ended with their last King Tsewang Yurgyal, who ruled until August 1947 when India became a democratic country.<ref name=Kohli>{{cite book |last=Kohli |first=Harish |title=Across the Frozen Himalaya: The Epic Winter Ski Traverse from Karakoram to Lipu Lekh |date=2000 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-106-1 |page=109|access-date=2009-11-22 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RJK0A1pZHt8C&q=Korzok&pg=PA101}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable" align="left" width="30%" style="font-size:85%; border:1px solid orange;"
|+ Statues inside Korzok Monastery
|width="40%" align="center" valign="left"|[[File:Korzok Monastery6.jpg|150px]]
|width="40%" align="center" valign="left"|[[File:Inside Korzok Gompa.jpg|150px]]
|-
|valign="top"|[[Shakyamuni Buddha]] and other statues
|valign="top"|[[Chortens]] and a Buddha statue
|-
|}
Korzok was in the [[Central Asia]]n trade route till 1947 and was the headquarters of [[Rupshu]] Valley. One of the kings, Rupshu Goba, who lived there with his family, built nine permanent houses there.<ref name=Jina>{{cite book |last=Jina |first=Prem Singh |title=High pasturelands of Ladakh Himalaya |date=1995 |page=49|access-date=2009-11-22 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G2jv3ETBwBUC&q=Korzok&pg=PA49 |publisher= Indus Publishing |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-7387-026-2 |edition=1st}}</ref>

The village has several houses, but the floating population of the nomads, establishing their tents (made of [[yak]] hair or skin) in summer, adds to the agricultural operations in the region.<ref name=Kohli/> The tents are provided with vents at the top to let out smoke. [[Pashmina]] (yak's wool) is the valuable product that the Changmas trade along with the salt that they extract from large salt fields in the area, such as the springs at Puga. They barter these two products for food grains and other necessities. In Korzok, in recent years, building activity is on the rise with the nomadic tribes changing their life style.<ref>{{Cite news |last= Datta |first= Rangan |date= 16 June 2004 |access-date=2009-11-23 |url=http://www.rangan-datta.info/Tso%20moriri.htm |title=Tso Moriri – Tea with Changpas |newspaper=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]] |archive-date=29 September 2022 |via=Rangan Datta website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929105255/http://www.rangan-datta.info/Tso%20moriri.htm}}</ref>

==Structures==
[[File:Chortens in Korzok.jpg|thumb|right|A number of [[chorten]]s in Korzok village]]
Korzok monastery as seen now is said to have been re-built in the 19th century on the right bank of the Tsomoriri River. The old monastery was built on a gentle slope, unlike other monasteries that are generally perched on hill tops. An impressive ''photong'' is also located near to the Gompa. A number of [[chortens]] are also seen near the monastery.<ref name=Bindloss>{{Cite book|last1=Bindloss|first1=Joe|first2=Sarina |last2=Singh |title=India |page=[https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetindi00sari/page/386 386] |access-date=2009-11-22 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetindi00sari |publisher= Lonely Planet|date=2007|isbn= 978-1-74104-308-2}}</ref><ref name=sacred>{{multiref|1={{cite news |title=Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS): Tsomoriri |url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/IN1213RIS.pdf |access-date=20 November 2023 |work=Ramsar |date=19 August 2002 |page=5 |archive-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930221102/https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/IN1213RIS.pdf}}|2={{Cite web|url=http://kunzum.com/2009/11/17/tso-moriri-in-ladakh-a-sacred-gift-for-a-living-planet/ |first=Ajay |last=Jain|website=Kunzum |date=17 November 2009 |title=Tso Moriri in Ladakh: A sacred gift for a living planet |access-date=2009-11-23 |archive-date=11 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611205702/http://kunzum.com/2009/11/17/tso-moriri-in-ladakh-a-sacred-gift-for-a-living-planet/|url-status=dead}}}}</ref><ref name=Outlook>{{Cite magazine|title=Manali to Leh: The road trip of a lifetime |last=Jain |first=Akshai |magazine=Outlook Traveller Magazine|pages=54–67 |volume=VIII |issue=VII | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hzEEAAAAMBAJ&q|publisher=Outlook Publishing|date=July 2008}}</ref> Korzok settlement is considered one of the oldest settlements of the world at this elevation.
<ref name=oldest>{{Cite web |url=http://www.volunteerinindia.com/Volunteer_moriri.htm |date=2008 |title=Volunteer Tso Moriri |website= Volunteer in India |access-date=2009-11-23|url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828230957/http://www.volunteerinindia.com/Volunteer_moriri.htm}}</ref>

The monastery houses the statue of [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] along with images of other deities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 June 2012 |access-date=2009-11-22 |url=http://reachladakh.com/changthang.htm |title=Chang Thang |website= Reach Ladakh |archive-date=24 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624025955/http://reachladakh.com/changthang.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> The monastery has beautiful ancient paintings ([[thangka]]s) which have been restored.<ref name=Outlook/>{{rp|59}}

==Geography==
[[File:Kyang at Tsomoriri.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tsomoriri|Tso Moriri]] (lake) and wildlife]]
Located {{cvt|211|km}} southeast of [[Leh]], {{cvt|164|km}} southeast of [[Upshi]], east of [[Miru, Ladakh|Meroo]] and {{cvt|58|km}} south of [[Mahe, Ladakh|Mahe]], Korzok Monastery is on the northwestern bank of Ladakh's Tso Moriri (lake), one of the highest lakes in the world of its size. The lake covers an area of {{convert|120|km2|mi2}}.<ref name=Outlook/>{{rp|87}} The water of the lake is partly brackish and partly sweet, with a depth of {{convert|30|m|ft}}. The valley formed by the Tso Moriri and other lakes, is part of the Rupshu Valley and Plateau. The lake and its surrounding area is a [[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] designated wetland.<ref name=wwf/>

Korzok is on the Ladakhi portion of the [[Changthang]] plateau amidst snow peaks that are the source of water to the lake. The Rupshu -Changthang area is a unique landscape. The barley fields in the Korzok village vicinity tended by the nomadic Changpa herdsmen (apart from the monks staying in the monastery) have been claimed to be the highest cultivated land in the world.<ref name=Ramsar/> The nomadic herdsmen seen here living in tents only, rear herds of goats, cows and yaks. Among the wildlife seen in the area are Himalayan birds, [[kiang]] (Tibetan wild ass), [[fox]]es and [[marmot]]s.<ref name=Ramsar/><ref name=wwf/><ref name=Bindloss/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ladakhvoyages.com/ladakh-sightseeing.htm|title=Ladakh Sightseeing and Places of interest|access-date=2009-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704154948/http://www.ladakhvoyages.com/ladakh-sightseeing.htm|archive-date=4 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The streams, which rise in the valley, are used for irrigation. Summer temperatures in the area reach a high of {{convert|36|C|F}} and a low of {{convert|5|C|F}}.<ref name=Jina/>

==Local festival==
{{anchor | Fedtival}}
[[File:Korzok Monastery8.jpg|thumb|right|Masks used during the dance festival]]
The '''Korzok Gu-stor festival''' is held at the monastery and attracts many Chang-pa, the [[Tibetan Plateau]] nomadic herdsmen.<ref name="Footloose">{{cite web|url=http://footlooseindia.com/ladakhtours/korzokgustor.htm|title=Korzok Gustor Festival|year=2007|website=Footloose India|access-date=1 September 2008}}</ref> At the festival masks are worn by the dancers to represent the [[Dharmapalas]] (guardian divinities of the Buddhist pantheon), and the patron divinities of the [[Drukpa Lineage|Drukpa]] sect of [[Tibetan Buddhism]].<ref name="Footloose"/>
The annual monastic festival is also held not only at Korzok but also at the Thuje in the Chungthan valley where the nomadic tribes fervently participate in the rituals. They not only make donations to the monasteries but also dedicate one son from each family to the monastery. It is said that the local nomads are so dedicated to Buddhism that opposite to their tents they allocate space to keep symbolic statue images of the [[Rinpoche]], usually the [[Dalai Lama]], along with the seven offering cups, in perfect harmony with their own folk (nomadic) religious deities and spirits.<ref name=Rosing>{{Cite book |last1=Rösing |first1=Ina |author2=Sonam Norboo Spurkhapa |title=Shamanic trance and amnesia: With the Shamans of the Changpa nomads in Ladakhi Changthang |pages=89–92 |access-date=2009-11-21 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-951I-leYtsC&q=Korzok+Monastery&pg=PA90 |publisher= Concept Publishing Company |location=New Delhi |date=2006 |isbn=978-81-8069-247-5}}</ref>

==Tourism==
[[File:Korzok Monastery.jpg|right|thumb|Tented accommodation near the [[Tsomoriri]] Lake]]
The monastery is located to the southeast of [[Leh]], at a road distance of {{convert|215|km|mi}}. It is also approachable from [[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]]. Leh is also connected by air with many destinations in India.

A permit—obtainable only at Leh—is essential for entry into the area. Only tented accommodation, pitched on the banks of the Tso Moriri, is available for visitors.<ref name=Bindloss/>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths=160px heights=120px perrow=4>
File:Chorten at Korzok Phu.jpg|A [[chorten]] in Kurzok
File:Korzok Monastery3.jpg|View of the Korzok Monastery
File:Korzok Monastery4.jpg|Painting in the Korzok Monastery
File:Korzok Monastery5.jpg|Paintings in the Korzok Monastery
</gallery>

== See also==

* [[All Ladakh Gonpa Association#List|List of Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh]]
* [[Tourism in Ladakh]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Linrothe |first=Rob |editor1=Ann Heirman |editor2=Carmen Meinert |editor3=Christoph Anderl |series=Dynamics in the History of Religions |title=Buddhist encounters and identities across East Asia |date=2018 |publisher=Brill |location=Leiden, Boston |isbn=978-90-04-36600-8 |pages=52–80 |url=https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/e6cb2377-7bba-4f82-9839-2122d2c906d2/9789004366152.pdf |chapter=Noise along the Network: A Set of Chinese Ming Embroidered Thangkas in the Indian Himalayas |doi=10.1163/9789004366152_004|postscript=:}}
{{block indent|1=Describes a set of rare Ming devotional embroideries ([[thangka]]s) dating from the early fifteenth century held at the Korzok Monastery. The author viewed the textiles in 2010 when they were displayed for a festival. Includes images.}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Korzok Monastery}}
* [https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Korzok+ Flickr images]

{{Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh}}
{{Jammu and Kashmir topics}}

[[Category:Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh]]
[[Category:Drukpa Kagyu monasteries and temples in India]]

Korzok Monastery - Revision history

TeresaGuercio23 at 06:33, 8 January 2026