Korzok Village Ladakh — 4,595m Ancient Settlement at Tso Moriri
One of the highest permanently inhabited settlements on planet Earth, an ancient pastoral village on the shores of Tso Moriri crowned by a 300-year-old Drukpa gompa.
Elevation: 4,595 m (15,075 ft)Status: One of the World's Highest VillagesLakeside: Northwestern Shore of Tso MoririMonastery: 17th-Century Drukpa KagyuPermit: Inner Line Permit (ILP) Required
Korzok (4,595 m), one of the highest permanent villages in the world, overlooking the sapphire waters of Tso Moriri in the Changthang plateau.Quick Orientation
Elevation
4,595 m (15,075 ft)
Global Distinction
One of the highest permanently inhabited settlements on Earth
Year Founded
c. 17th Century (Lama Kunga Lodro)
Distance from Leh
220 km southeast (approx. 6 to 7 hours)
Key Festival
Korzok Gustor (July/August)
Chapter I — Settlement at the Edge of the World
Life at 4,595 Metres Above Sea Level
Korzok (often spelled *Karzok*) is an extraordinary, ancient village situated on the northwestern shoreline of the sacred alpine lake Tso Moriri in the high Changthang plateau of southeastern Ladakh. Perched at an astonishing elevation of **4,595 metres (15,075 feet)**, Korzok holds the prestigious global distinction of being one of the highest permanently inhabited agricultural and pastoral settlements on Earth.
While most human societies find permanent year-round survival impossible above 4,000 metres due to chronic hypoxia and extreme winter freezing, the resilient villagers of Korzok have thrived here for centuries. In summer, the village cultivates the highest agricultural barley and turnip fields in the world along small glacial meltwater channels, while managing vast herds of pashmina goats, yaks, and horses.
Chapter II — The 17th-Century Monastic Citadel
Korzok Gompa and Drukpa Heritage
Crowning a rocky ridge above the traditional flat-roofed mud-brick houses is **Korzok Monastery** (*Korzok Gompa*), founded in the 17th century by Lama Kunga Lodro under the royal patronage of King Sengge Namgyal. Affiliated with the Drukpa Kagyu lineage, Korzok Gompa has served for over three centuries as the paramount spiritual anchor for the nomadic Changpa pastoralists of the Rupshu and Changthang deserts.
The monastery's main prayer hall houses an exquisite gilded copper statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, ancient thangkas painted with pure gold leaf, and a sacred, silver-inlaid image of the goddess Tara. Every summer in July or August, the monastery courtyard erupts in colour and spiritual intensity during the **Korzok Gustor festival**, where resident monks perform sacred masked cham dances to banish negative energies and bless the fragile trans-Himalayan ecosystem.
Chapter III — The Changpa Homeland
The Soul of Nomadic Pashmina Pastoralism
Korzok is the cultural capital of the indigenous **Changpa nomads**. While a few hundred permanent residents live in the village year-round, the surrounding rolling hills are dotted in summer with the black yak-wool tents (*Rebo*) of semi-nomadic Changpa families who graze their flocks across the delicate wetland meadows of Tso Moriri.
Staying in Korzok offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness traditional high-altitude pastoralism: watching hundreds of cashmere-producing goats being milked at sunrise, spinning raw pashmina wool on hand spindles, and drinking warm butter tea around earthen hearths fueled by dried yak dung.
Logistics & Practical Advice
How to Reach, Permits & Travel Rules
Critical Information for Visitors
How to Reach: Located 220 km southeast of Leh. Drive via Karu, Upshi, Chumathang, Mahe Bridge, and Kiagar Tso (approx. 6 to 7 hours from Leh).
Permits: An Inner Line Permit endorsed for Tso Moriri / Korzok is mandatory. Checked at Mahe Bridge.
Extreme Altitude Warning: At nearly 4,600 metres, Korzok is significantly higher than Leh (3,524 m). Do NOT travel to Korzok without at least 3 to 4 days of prior acclimatisation in Ladakh.
Accommodations: Basic family homestays and guesthouses operate in the village. Seasonal luxury tented camps operate outside the village near the lake perimeter between June and September.
Korzok sits at an elevation of 4,595 metres (15,075 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest permanent villages in the world.
What lake is Korzok village located on?
Korzok is located directly on the northwestern shore of Tso Moriri, a designated Ramsar wetland lake in the Changthang region of Ladakh.
How old is Korzok Monastery?
Korzok Monastery was founded in the 17th century by Lama Kunga Lodro under the patronage of King Sengge Namgyal, making it over 350 years old.
What is the Korzok Gustor festival?
Korzok Gustor is the annual monastery festival celebrated in July or August, featuring sacred masked cham dances performed by monks and attended by hundreds of nomadic Changpa families.
Can I travel from Korzok to Tso Kar lake?
Yes. A scenic mountain road crosses from Korzok over the Polokongka La pass (4,970 m) to reach Tso Kar lake in about 3 hours (85 km).
