Shambhala is a transliteration from Tibetan, means "Blissful Land." It is regarded as the origin of the Kalachakra Dharma and represents the ideal pure land sought by Tibetan Buddhists.

In Buddhist mythology, it is also known as a mystical kingdom or "Mandala." The concept of Shangri-La, popularized by James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon, is believed to have been inspired by this legend.