The fact that some of the ancient texts describing the Zhang Zhung kingdom also claimed the Sutlej valley was Shambhala, the land of happiness (from which James Hilton possibly derived the name "Shangri La"), may have delayed their study by Western scholars.
Den kendsgerning, at nogle af de gamle tekster, der beskriver Zhangzhung-riget, hævdede også, at Sutlej-dalen var Shambhala, lykkelandet (hvorfra James Hilton muligvis hentede navnet "Shangri La"), kan have forsinket deres studie af vestlige lærde.