Karzok
title: "Karzok" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["villages-in-nyoma-tehsil"] topic_path: "general/villages-in-nyoma-tehsil" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karzok" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Karzok |
| other_name | Korzok |
| settlement_type | Village |
| image_skyline | Karzok Tso Moriri (cropped) 02.jpg |
| pushpin_map | India Ladakh#India |
| pushpin_relief | y |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in Ladakh, India |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | India |
| subdivision_type1 | Union Territory |
| subdivision_name1 | Ladakh |
| subdivision_type2 | District |
| subdivision_name2 | Leh |
| subdivision_type3 | Tehsil |
| subdivision_name3 | Nyoma |
| seat_type | Panchayat |
| unit_pref | Metric |
| elevation_m | 4595 |
| population_as_of | 2011 |
| population_total | 1291 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| timezone1 | IST |
| utc_offset1 | +5:30 |
| postal_code_type | |
| area_code_type | |
| blank_name_sec1 | 2011 census code |
| blank_info_sec1 | 899 |
| mapframe | yes |
| mapframe-wikidata | yes |
| :: |
| name = Karzok | other_name = Korzok | native_name = | native_name_lang = | settlement_type = Village | image_skyline = Karzok Tso Moriri (cropped) 02.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = | etymology = | pushpin_map = India Ladakh#India | pushpin_relief = y | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ladakh, India | pushpin_map1 = | pushpin_map_caption1 = | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = Union Territory | subdivision_name1 = Ladakh | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Leh | subdivision_type3 = Tehsil | subdivision_name3 = Nyoma | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | seat_type = Panchayat | seat = | leader_party = | leader_title = | leader_name = | unit_pref = Metric | area_total_km2 = | elevation_m = 4595 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_total = 1291 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | blank_name_sec1 = 2011 census code | blank_info_sec1 = 899 | footnotes = | official_name = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-wikidata = yes
Karzok or Korzok (at an altitude of 14,995 ft or 4,570 m to 15,075 ft or 4,595 m above sea level), on the northwestern shores of the Tso Moriri lake, is a village in the Rupshu region and a block of the Leh district in Ladakh, India.
Karzok is among the highest permanent settlements in the world. It is located 60 km southwest of Nyoma, 40 km south of Puga separated by Salt Valley, and 80-100 km northwest of Chumur. The Korzok Monastery, of Drukpa Tibetan Buddhist lineage, is located here.
History
Karzok was on the Central Asian trade route until 1947 and was the headquarters of the Rupshu Valley. One of the kings, Rupshu Goba, who lived there with his family, built nine permanent houses there.
The village has several houses, and the nomadic population who establish their tents (made of yak hair or skin) in summer, add to the agricultural operations in the region. The tents are provided with vents at the top to let out the smoke. Pashmina 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 recent years, building activity is on the rise with the nomadic tribes changing their lifestyle.
Geography
Karzok in Changthang plateau lies on the northwest bank of the salt lake, Tso Moriri, which lies immediate south of Spangnak Ri and northwest of Karzok.
Demographics
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Karzok.jpg" caption="Karzok village"] ::
According to the 2011 census of India, Karzok has 253 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 46.64%.
::data[format=table title="Demographics (2011 Census){{cite news |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/datagov/CDB_PCA_Census/PCA_CDB_0103_F_Census.xls |title=Leh district census |work=[[2011 Census of India]] |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations |access-date=2015-07-23 }}"]
| Total | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1291 | 673 |
| Children aged below 6 years | 189 | 102 |
| Scheduled caste | 4 | 2 |
| Scheduled tribe | 931 | 485 |
| Literates | 514 | 292 |
| Workers (all) | 813 | 450 |
| Main workers (total) | 315 | 225 |
| Main workers: Cultivators | 257 | 192 |
| Main workers: Agricultural labourers | 3 | 2 |
| Main workers: Household industry workers | 6 | 0 |
| Main workers: Other | 49 | 31 |
| Marginal workers (total) | 498 | 225 |
| Marginal workers: Cultivators | 224 | 117 |
| Marginal workers: Agricultural labourers | 7 | 3 |
| Marginal workers: Household industry workers | 126 | 19 |
| Marginal workers: Others | 141 | 86 |
| Non-workers | 478 | 223 |
| :: |
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Karzok_welcome_sign.jpg" caption="Welcome sign, Karzok"] ::
Climate
Karzok has a subarctic climate (Köppen classification Dfc) bordering on a tundra climate (ET). Summers are cool with chilly nights, and winters are long and cold with highs below zero.
|metric first = yes |single line = yes |location = Karzok
| Jan high C =-7.2 | Feb high C =-5.4 | Mar high C =-1.2 | Apr high C =4.3 | May high C =9.2 | Jun high C =14.0 | Jul high C =16.9 | Aug high C =16.2 | Sep high C =12.9 | Oct high C =6.5 | Nov high C =1.2 | Dec high C =-3.5
| Jan mean C =-13.1 | Feb mean C =-11.2 | Mar mean C =-6.8 | Apr mean C =-1.5 | May mean C =2.9 | Jun mean C =7.4 | Jul mean C =10.7 | Aug mean C =10.2 | Sep mean C =6.4 | Oct mean C =-0.2 | Nov mean C =-5.6 | Dec mean C =-10.0
| Jan low C =-18.9 | Feb low C =-16.9 | Mar low C =-12.4 | Apr low C =-7.2 | May low C =-3.3 | Jun low C =0.9 | Jul low C =4.5 | Aug low C =4.2 | Sep low C =0.0 | Oct low C =-6.8 | Nov low C =-12.4 | Dec low C =-16.5
| Jan precipitation mm =22 | Feb precipitation mm =21 | Mar precipitation mm =24 | Apr precipitation mm =19 | May precipitation mm =19 | Jun precipitation mm =9 | Jul precipitation mm =28 | Aug precipitation mm =34 | Sep precipitation mm =23 | Oct precipitation mm =12 | Nov precipitation mm =7 | Dec precipitation mm =12
|source = climate-data.com
Transport
From the north, Karzok is reachable via Sumdo, on the Miroo-Puga-Sumdo-Mahe Road (MPSM Road) which begins at NH-3 (Miroo) and ends at Leh-Nyoma Road (Mahe). From Sumdo, the Karzok is at the southern end of 40 km long Sumdo-Karzok Road.
From the south, the Karzok is reachable via Sumdo Kaza (in Himachal Pradesh) by the 125 km long Kiato-Karzok Road via the Takling La being constructed by the BRO as the fourth road to Ladakh.{{Cite web | url = https://www.amarujala.com/shimla/kyato-korzok-road-will-connect-himachal-to-ladakh-army-will-have-easy-access-to-china-border-2025-04-21?pageId=1 | title = Kyato-Korzok road will connect Himachal to Ladakh, army will have easy access to China border | last = | first = | website = Amar Ujala | date = 2025-04-21 | accessdate = 2025-04-22
References
References
- "Villages | District Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh | India".
- [[List of highest cities in the world]]
- "Blockwise Village Amenity Directory". Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.
- Korzok. https://www.dangerousroads.org/asia/india/5683-korzok.html
- Jina, Prem Singh. (1995). "High pasturelands of Ladakh Himalaya". Indus Publishing.
- (2004-06-16). "Tso Moriri - Tea with Changpas". The Statesman.
- north of which lies the [[Salt Valley]]. The Salt Valley has the [[Kyago Tso]] salt lake surrounded by several glaciated mountain peaks including the '''Karzok Kangri''' (6,110m/20,046ft, also called Korzok Kangri)[https://peakvisor.com/peak/korzok-kangri.html Korzok kangri], accessed 21 April 2025.
- "Leh district census". Directorate of Census Operations.
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