Ven. Kunga Sotop was born in Dege Jondha, Kham province of Tibet. At an early age, he started his education at a local school and studied there for many years. He then moved to the Tergar monastery to study Tibetan Buddhist scriptures and rituals.

After coming into exile in 1996, he joined Palpung Sherapaling, a Kagyu monastery, and studied Buddhist philosophy there for numerous years. He furthered his studies on Buddhist scriptures and texts of Gelug school at Sera Jhe Monastery in Bylakuppe. Since 2006, as per the guidance of Kyabjye Migyur Rinpoche, he took the responsibility of the administrator of the Tergar Monastery in Bodhgaya, Bihar, a position which he continues to hold. He was earlier elected to the 16^th and 17^th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. He is currently a member of the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile from the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism.