Khandu Wangchuk Bhutia (lama) grew up in a small rural village of Sakyong, West Sikkim, India. He was born to parents, Late Jigmee Wangchuk Lama and Late Chunni Dolkar Bhutia in the year 1959. His father was a revered artist, a spiritual master and a monk in the sacred Pemayangtse Monastery. During the mid to late 1960s, his father was tasked by the Chogyal of Sikkim, His royal highness Shri Palden Thendup Namgyal along with the requests from the Udor Chesum of the Pemayangtse Monastery, the monks and the public of Sikkim (mainly West Sikkim), to construct a wooden structure in the Pemayangtse Monastery depicting the realm of Heaven and Guru Padmasambhava's palace ( Sangdolpalri ). The wooden structure stills stands tall (17 ft) in Pemayangtse Monastery. It was during this time that Khandu Wangchuk Bhutia, developed an interest of the Buddhist arts. His father noticing the keen son, decided to send him to a well known Thangka Artist in Kalimpong called Shri Phuntsok Sangpo .His teacher was a Thangka Master of the old Tsangri style and was well received by high personalities during his time. Shri Phuntsok Sangpo specialised in the Terser traditions. He was recently a recepient of the prestigious Padmashree Award in 2022.
