The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c25.157

v3.c25.157

In 1549 the king made Mahmūdābād on the Vātrak his ordinary place of residence. The town had been built by his ancestor, Mahmūd Begarha, and he conceived a liking for its air and surroundings. He enlarged the existing royal palace and parcelled out land among his nobles, bidding them build palaces and houses for themselves. Mallū Qādir Shāh of Mālwa, who had been expelled from his kingdom by Shujā‘at Khān, Sher Shāh's governor, was now at his court, and described in detail the beauties of the deer-park of Māndū, inspiring Mahmūd to lay out a replica of it. Here he lived in great splendour and luxury, indulging, besides the usual lusts of an oriental prince, his propensity for powerful and poisonous drugs, which he took not only for their intoxicating and stupefying effect, but also as aphrodisiacs.