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About
Korzok |
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Korzok, also known as Karzok or Kurzok, is a Tibetan Buddhist
monastery which belongs to the Drukpa Lineage and ancient
village on the western bank of Tsomoriri Lake, one of the
highest lakes in the world in Leh District, Ladakh, India. It
covers an area of 120 square kilometres (46 sq mi).The water
of the lake is partly salty and partly sweet. Its depth in the
lake is 30 metres (98 ft). The valley formed by the Tsomoriri
and other lakes, is known as the Rupshu Valley. The lake and
its surrounding area is a Ramsar designated wetland.
Korzok Monastery is highly admired monastery and is 300 years
old.The Tsomoriri Lake in front of it is also held in
respect, and considered equally sacred by the local people.
With the efforts of the WWF-India the Tsomoriri has been
honored as a 'Sacred Gift for a Living Planet' by the local
community.As a result, the area has been opened up for
tourists.A permit (obtainable at Leh only) is necessary for entry into
the area.Only tented accommodation,inclined on the banks of
the Tsomoriri Lake,is available for visitors.
Korzok is border between Ladakh in the north and Tibet in the
east and Zanskar in the west.The Changthang plateau is the
geographical setting with snow peaks that is the source of
water to the Lake.The Rupshu Valley, also called the
Chungthang valley, is a distinctive landscape. The barley
fields around Korzok village occupied by the nomadic Chang-pa
herdsmen (apart from the monks staying in the monastery),have
been described as the highest cultivated land in the world.The nomadic herdsmen seen here living in tents only, rear
herds of goats, cows and yaks.The wildlife seen in the area
consists of Himalayan birds, foxes ,wild ass and marmots.The
streams, which rise in the valley, are used for irrigation.
Summer temperatures in the area reach a high of 36 °C (97 °F)
and a low of 5 °C (41 °F). |
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History of
Korzok |
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The history of Korzok is traced back to kings who ruled in the
inhospitable terrain and fought several wars.They suffered
numerous setbacks in wars and had to lead a nomadic life in
seclusion. 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.Korzok was in the Central Asian trade route till 1947 and was
the headquarters of Ripshu Valley.One of the kings, Rupshu
Goba, who lived there with his family, built nine permanent
houses there.
Now there are 50 houses in the village but the floating
population of the nomads, establishing their tents in summer,
adds to the agricultural operations in the region.The tents
are provided with vents at the top to let out smoke.Pashmina(yak’s wool) is the precious 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.
Korzok monastery is said to have been re-built in the 19th
century on the right bank of the Tsomoriri River.The old
monastery was constructed on a gentle slope, unlike other
monasteries that are generally perched on hill tops.An impressivephotong is also situated near to the Gompa. A number
of Chortens are also seen near the monastery. Korzok
settlement is considered as one of the oldest settlements of
the world.The monastery houses the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha along
with images of other deities.The monastery has attractive
paintings (Thangkas); old paintings which have been restored.
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Local Festival |
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The Korzok Gustor festival is held at the monastery and
attracts many Chang-pa, the Tibetan plateau nomadic herdsmen.The festival lasts for two days (July/August) and ends with
the dismemberment and dispersal of the 'Storma' (sacrificial
cake) by the leader of the Black Hat dancers in a ceremony
called 'Argham' (Killing).The ceremony represents the
destruction of evil and pays homage to the assassination of
the Tibetan apostate King Lang-dar-ma, by a Buddhist monk in
the mid 9th century. At the festival masks are wear by the
dancers to represent the Dharmapalas (guardian divinities of
the Buddhist pantheon),and the patron divinities of the Drukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism.The annual monastic festival
is also held not only at Korzok but also at the Thuje in the
Chungthan valley where the nomadic tribes eagerly participate
in the ceremony. They not only make donations to the
monasteries but also donate 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. |
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Location of Korzok |
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Korzok, is located at 4,595 metres (15,075 ft), and it houses
a Shakyamuni Buddha and other statues. It is home to about 35
monks.In the past, the monastery was the headquarters of the Rupshu
Valley.It was under the jurisdiction of the Hemis monastery as
a Drugpa order monastery. Two or four monks were assigned to
run the monastery.
The monastery is situated to the southeast of Leh in eastern
Ladakh,Jammu & Kashmir, at a road distance of 215 kilometres
(134 mi). It is also approachable from Manali.The Leh-Manali
Highway or Manali-Tsokar route leads to Korzok Monastery and
the Tsomoriri Lake.The Leh-Manali route passes through Upshi,
Chungthang to Tsomoriri Lake, a distance of 215 kilometres
(134 mi). The road, climbing though the Tanglang La Pass, is
the second highest in the world.Leh is also linked by air
with many destinations in India. |
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Korzok Village with backdrop of Tso Moriri |
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Korzok is a small village which is located 3 km from the
northwest end of the Tso Moriri Lake. Most of the population of
the Korzok are changpa nomads. Korzok is one of the India’s
highest permanent villages at an altitude of 4572 m,During the
summers Changpascamp at various places in their robos (small
tents) and look after their flock.Their sheep produce the famous
pashmina, one of the costliest varieties of wool. Traditional
weavers from Kashmir and Himachal buy this wool.The recent boom
in its value has led to their success, though that is not
evident in their life-style.Korzok meaning is “Middle of the
mountain” and it’s an excellent site to enjoy the lake
side.There is a monastery at korzok which is supposed to be
about 500 years old.Korzok monastery lies on the traditional
trading route between Spiti and Ladakh, it was visited by many
of early explorers.
In older days Korzok was headquarter of Rupshu.Earlier there was
no Government facility for changpas in Korzok but now this
valley has a school, PWD guest house and nearby ITBP camp.
Korzok Village cuts off the civilization for about 8 months in a
year due to snow. The only way of getting around in winter is on
foot or horseback.The climate at Korzok is cold arid, snow falls
in winter, rain fall is very less, there is a wide variation in
temperature, during summer it rises as high as up to 36 degree
Celsius but same falls to 5 degree Celsius at night; the sky is
usually clear and cloudless.Thunder and lightning are hardly
seen. |
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Korzok Village: Agriculture on the top of the world |
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The
fields of Korzok village are among the highest agricultural
lands in the world.During the summers, the Changpas who live in
Korzok grow vegetables,barley and oat. A Major portion of
agricultural land at Korzok belongs to gompa or monastery in the
village.This land is divided into plots and given to the lamas
(monks) for cultivation for the period of 6 to 7 years.Recently
tractors are introduced for plowing these lands and are hired at
the rate of Rs 600 per hour for plowing.
The changpas use horses for plowing.The fields are prepared for
cultivation by application of fertilizer followed by water.
People generally use natural fertilizer here.The first crop
consists of barley,oats and vegetables are harvested in August-September,after
which fodder grass is grown and harvested in December. Water of
irrigation comes from chasma or glacier.A stream from the
glacier flows into Tso Moriri Lake and agricultural fields are
situated along and around the stream, near the banks of the
lake. |
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