Imagine spending a night behind iron bars, sleeping in a bare prison barrack with only a simple bed, an earthen water pot and tightly monitored surroundings for company. In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Hyderabad, ordinary citizens can now voluntarily experience life inside a prison through a unique jail tourism programme launched at Chanchalguda Central Jail.
The initiative, titled ‘Feel The Jail’, has been introduced to give visitors a close look at the realities of prison life, allowing them to spend either 12 or 24 hours inside specially designed barracks that recreate the atmosphere and routines of a correctional facility.
Inside The Prison Experience
Visitors entering the prison are guided through a clean and carefully maintained entrance that opens into a narrow
corridor lined with prison barracks. The surroundings are quiet, minimalistic, and notably well-organised, reflecting the disciplined structure of life inside a correctional facility.
One of the barracks designed for the programme features a single bed placed against a plain white wall, covered with a navy-blue bedsheet. The room contains only the most basic necessities, including a clay water pot and a compact washroom area.
A heavy black iron grill separates the barrack from the outer corridor, replicating the restricted environment typically associated with prison cells. Despite the security features, the rooms remain comparatively airy and spacious, though intentionally sparse in furnishings.
Another section created for the 24-hour stay experience contains four beds arranged opposite one another, recreating the shared accommodation commonly found in Indian prisons. The layout is intended to familiarise visitors with communal prison living and the limited privacy inmates experience daily.
Further inside lies a high-security barrack protected by double-layered iron grills designed to restrict movement and visibility. The cell contains only a bed, a small table, a wash area, and an earthen pot for drinking water, underscoring the austere lifestyle maintained within high-security prison sections.
Barracks Reserved For Visitors, Not Prisoners
Officials clarified that these specially designated barracks are not being used to house inmates. Instead, they have been prepared exclusively for the tourism initiative, allowing ordinary citizens to temporarily experience life inside a prison environment without disrupting regular jail operations, as reported by Hans India.
The programme has been conceptualised as both an educational and awareness-driven initiative, aimed at helping visitors understand the realities of prison life, discipline, and confinement. Authorities believe the experience may also encourage greater public understanding of the correctional system and prison administration.
Ticket Prices For The Jail Stay Experience
The prison tourism initiative has introduced different fee structures based on the duration of the stay.
Visitors opting for the full 24-hour prison experience will have to pay Rs 2,000, while those choosing the shorter 12-hour programme will be charged Rs 1,000.
Meanwhile, entry to the Chanchalguda Prison Museum has been priced at Rs 10 for students and Rs 20 for general visitors. Children below the age of 10 will be allowed free entry.
Chanchalguda Becomes India’s Fifth Jail Museum
With the launch of this initiative, the Chanchalguda Prison Museum has become the fifth jail museum in India.
Similar prison tourism or museum experiences already exist at several historic correctional institutions across the country, including the Cellular Jail, the Alipore Jail Museum, the Bengaluru Central Jail Museum, and the Goa Central Jail.
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