Full Breakdown
Hyderabad’s “Feel the Jail” Immersive Experience Launched at Chanchalguda Central Jail
5/13/2026, 10:53:02 AM
Core Launch and Visitor Offering
On 12 May 2026 the Telangana Prisons Department inaugurated the “Feel the Jail” programme at Chanchalguda Central Jail, Hyderabad. The paid initiative lets members of the public stay for 12 hours (INR1,000) or 24 hours (INR2,000) in purpose-built barracks that replicate single-occupancy, shared-occupancy and high-security cells. Participants receive prison uniforms, a basic wash area, and standard jail meals; mobile phones and personal belongings are deposited before entry. The adjoining Telangana Prisons Museum, the fifth jail museum in India, opened simultaneously with entry fees of INR10 for students, INR20 for other adults, and free admission for children under 10.
Historical Context and Museum Development
The museum follows earlier heritage projects, notably a collapsed jail museum at Sangareddy, and joins four existing institutions: the Cellular Jail (Andaman & Nicobar), Alipore Jail Museum (Kolkata), Bengaluru Central Jail Museum, and Goa Central Jail Museum. Curated displays trace the evolution of Telangana’s correctional system from colonial-era punitive practices—rock-tied restraints, forced standing—to contemporary rehabilitation-focused frameworks. Exhibits include historic punishment devices, prison-made products, and a gallery documenting inmate labour on the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam (1961-68).
Key Officials and Their Vision
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla inaugurated the museum and the experience, describing the museum as a “historic milestone” in the shift from punishment to correction. Director General of Prisons Soumya Mishra presented the programme as a “significant milestone in the evolution of correctional administration” and emphasized its educational purpose. Both officials framed the initiative as a means to foster empathy, discipline, and public understanding of modern correctional goals.
Experience Details and Visitor Logistics
The experience area contains three types of barracks: a solitary cell with a navy-blue sheet and earthen water pot; a shared unit with four beds; and a high-security block with double-layered grills. Visitors follow a regimented schedule, wear prison-issued uniforms, and consume meals prepared for inmates. Personal electronics are secured, and movement is restricted to simulate authentic confinement.
Data, Fees, and Funding
- 12-hour experience: INR1,000
- 24-hour experience: INR2,000
- Museum entry: INR10 (students), INR20 (others), free for children < 10
- India’s jail museums: 5 (including Chanchalguda)
Fees collected are earmarked for the prisoners’ welfare and development fund, supporting inmate-focused skill-development and rehabilitation programmes.
Official Statements (Summarized)
Governor Shukla highlighted colonial atrocities, recalled his own 19-month imprisonment during the Emergency, and argued that prisons must become correctional centres where inmates can “realise their mistakes and rebuild themselves.” He noted past reforms such as installing fans, televisions, and canteens to restore dignity. DG Mishra stressed that the programme’s objective is awareness, not entertainment, and that it targets students and young citizens to illustrate that prisons now serve rehabilitation, skill development, and societal reintegration.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They could neither sit nor sleep. Their bodies were broken physically, mentally and emotionally, but their spirit could not be shattered,” — Shiv Pratap Shukla, Governor of Telangana
- “I spent 19 months and 30 days in jail during the Emergency. That is when I understood what prison life truly means and the challenges inmates face,” — Shiv Pratap Shukla, Governor of Telangana
- “Not every person inside a prison is beyond redemption. Jails must become correctional centres where people realise their mistakes and rebuild themselves,” — Shiv Pratap Shukla, Governor of Telangana
- “The objective is not entertainment, but awareness, empathy, discipline and understanding,” — Soumya Mishra, Director General of Prisons, Telangana
- “People often see prisons only as places of punishment. We want society to understand that prisons today are also spaces of rehabilitation, reform and skill development,” — Soumya Mishra, Director General of Prisons, Telangana
Criticism & Opposition
The sources do not report any public criticism or organized opposition to the programme.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No discrepancies appear among the provided excerpts regarding fees, dates, or programme features. The limited reliability scores of the sources suggest a need for independent verification of long-term impact.
What’s Next
The Telangana Prisons Department has launched the “Telangana Jail Experience” website for bookings. Inquiries can be directed to telanganafeelthejail@gmail.com or +91 94946 32046. Officials anticipate the initiative will become a focal point for public awareness, prison-reform education, and tourism in the state.
