Korzok Village - a haven of freedom in Ladakh

The world's highest nomadic village.

On either side of the road lies a shimmering desert of sand, below is the azure expanse of a lake, above is the light blue of the sky, in front are majestic mountain ranges, and behind are a vast expanse of snow-capped mountains – this is the scenery at what is known as "paradise on earth," Lake Moriri (Tso Moriri).

About 3 km from Tso Moriri lies the village of Korzok. Its stunning lake gives life here a unique and tranquil atmosphere. But there's another reason Korzok is famous: it's the highest settlement in India, and one of the highest places in the world that human civilization has reached.

It's no coincidence that Korzok is called the 'lonely' Tibetan village. Located at an altitude of 4,600 meters, 230 kilometers from Leh, the capital of Jammu & Kashmir state, Korzok is surrounded by majestic nature. Although there are traces of human activity, the nomadic people here only return to the village to raise livestock and engage in tourism when summer arrives. During the summer months, they typically cultivate barley, oats, and vegetables.

In winter, the villagers practice shifting cultivation from November to May of the following year; when snow covers everything, the lake freezes, and temperatures drop to around -2 to -4 degrees Celsius. At this time, the weather is harsh, roads are remote, and the only way to travel is on foot or by horse. Because of the heavy snowfall that isolates the village for many months, time here seems to stand still throughout the winter.

In the village of Korzok, there is also a 300-year-old Tibetan Buddhist monastery belonging to the Drukpa lineage, home to about 70 monks. It is rumored that the nomadic people who worked for the monastery in the past used to herd livestock for the king to produce milk, cheese, and butter. But they toiled day and night for very little pay. Therefore, the place was named Korzok (meaning "the king's cattle").obtained through unfair means").

Another explanation is that "Korzok" is derived from the words "Kor" and "Zok". In the Ladakhi language, Kor means a place. Zok is believed to come from a phrase.dzot-pa, which means manager. When put together, Korzok also meansin the mountains.

Today, this monastery houses sacred Buddhist relics, such as the relic of the Buddha's second tooth; and the sacred image of Guru Padmasambhava, located inside the heart of the Vajrasattva deity statue, sculpted by Guru Padmasambhava himself. Visitors should note that Korzok Monastery has a rule of fining anyone who smokes around the village, and drinking and selling alcohol is also prohibited.

A paradise for souls seeking freedom.

Both Lake Moriri and the village of Korzok are located in Ladakh in the Himalayas – a sacred land where humans feel small in the face of the majestic natural world. Naturally, it's also a 'paradise' destination for those yearning for freedom. Standing in the village and gazing into the distance, the mere sight of the lake is enough to captivate countless visitors.

In Tso Moriri, every season is beautiful: from spring to autumn, the vegetation changes color, sometimes lush green, sometimes golden yellow; in winter, the lake freezes over and the landscape is covered in a pristine white blanket of ice.

The lake is part of a Ramsar site (a wetland of international importance as defined by the Ramsar Convention), which is also the highest Ramsar site in the world. A large number of rare plant and animal species have been found in this area.

Located next to it is Pangong Lake (Pangong Tso), a 135-kilometer-long body of water with marshy areas, numerous shrubs, and perennial herbs. It's a paradise for migratory birds. In summer, visitors can spot rare brown-headed gulls, black-necked cranes, and around 20 other native bird species soaring and fishing over the lake. Pangong Tso is also the filming location for the final scene of the famous movie.Three Idiotsof India.

Besides its picturesque views of Lake Moriri and Pangong, Korzok attracts wanderlust enthusiasts for many other unique reasons.

Looking down from the hilltop at Korzok village, visitors will see, all over the vast space before them, stacked stones forming pyramidal structures called pyramids.stupaFor the people here, it is a ritual of prayer for peace and a wish for good fortune sent to all who pass through this land.

Korzok village boasts abundant nature, tranquility, and sacredness; however, there is no phone signal, no internet, and virtually no modern technology (mostly brought in by tourists). All amenities are minimal: hotel rooms and guesthouses, though self-contained, require hot water to be brought in by bucket and left outside the door; stoves are fueled by dried yak dung; and most houses and huts are constructed from yak hides or fur…

Along with farming in the summer and tourism in the winter, the nomadic people of Korzok village also weave Pashmina wool and extract salt from salt fields, then trade these two products for grain, food, and other necessities.

Despite lacking modern conveniences, mansions, and cars, the kind and hospitable people here are unburdened by the worries, hustle, and bustle of modern life. They pass down a different way of life, preserving a different culture, which many visitors admire.

There's something unique about the nomadic people in Korzok village: they believe that no burial shroud has pockets; because no one can take money, gold, or fame with them when they die.

A popular tourist destination in Ladakh

As an indispensable stop on tours to Ladakh, Korzok village attracts tourists almost all year round, especially during the summer months, which are the peak tourist season. While winter sees fewer visitors due to harsh weather and heavy snowfall often causing road blockages, many mountain climbing enthusiasts still come here to participate in adventurous sports.

While many Vietnamese tourists choose tours to see the frozen lakes high in the mountains, foreign tourists often opt to combine these with trekking and conquering challenging routes for added excitement. During this time, tours to Korzok village typically focus on experiencing the winter season in December, with travel by air and train.

Additional information

One of the reputable companies offering all-inclusive tours to Ladakh in general and Korzok village in particular is FIT Tour - a company specializing in unique and experiential tours.

FIT Tour's Ladakh tour schedule for 2022 runs from June to September, with direct flights from Vietnam to Dheli and Leh. Tour participants will not only visit the isolated village of Kozork, but also experience many unique activities, such as: checking in at the world-famous Khadrung La Pass and Changla Pass, riding camels on the ancient Silk Road, camping overnight in the Nubra Valley, Moriri Lake, and Pangong, etc.

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