Korzok Monastery, Ladakh, India

Drukpa Lineage, 19th century, about 70 monks.

Korzok is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Drukpa Lineage, located in Korzok village, on the northwestern bank of Tso Moriri lake in Leh District, Ladakh, India, at 4,560 meters altitude. Its original name is Thupstan Sningpo Druprgout Standar Chosling.

Korzok Monastery. Photo: Candle Tree, Wikipedia.

Tso Moriri lake covers an area of 120 square kilometers being one of the highest lakes in the world of its size. The water of the lake is partly brackish and partly sweet. Its depth is 30 meters. The valley formed by the Tso Moriri and other lakes, is known as part of the Rupshu Valley and Plateau.

History

The 3rd Korzok Rinpoche, Kunga Lodro Ningpo founded the monastery between 1851-1861. The chief sponsor of the monastery was the head of Rupsho, Tsering Tashi Namgyal.

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.

Korzok settlement is considered as one of the oldest settlements of the world at this altitude.

Features

The monastery houses the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha along with images of deities. The monastery has beautiful paintings (Thangkas); old paintings which have been restored. Currently the monastery is home to about 70 monks.

Korzok murals. Photo: Andreas, Wikipedia.

Festivals

The Korzok Gustor festival is held at the monastery and attracts many Chang-pa, the Tibetan plateau nomadic herdsmen.

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 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 fervently participate in the rituals. They not only make donations to the monasteries but also dedicate one son from each family to the monastery.

Travel and Visiting

The monastery is located to the southeast of Leh in eastern Ladakh, at a road distance of 215 kilometers from Leh. It is also approachable from Manali. Leh is also connected by air with many destinations in India.

A permit, obtainable at Leh only, is essential for entry into the area. Only tented accommodation, pitched on the banks of the Tso Moriri, is available for visitors.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korzok_Monastery

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