Two Malaysian nationals flew all the way from Kuala Lumpur to Hyderabad to spend this weekend in Sangareddy Prison, where anyone can stay and experience the life of a prisoner by paying Rs 500 for a day.

The Telangana Prison Department runs the unique jail tourism programme called "Feel The Jail" where a common man can spent 24 hours inside the Sangareddy Prison, which was built during the Nizam era in 1796.

The Malaysian nationals - Ng Inn Wo, a dentist, and Ong Boon Tek, a businessman from Selangor in Kuala Lumpur, learnt about the unique tourism facility online and contacted the prison officials for a stay.

Both were received by the jail officials, and after the formalities both were given prisoners clothes, blankets, mugs, plates and were then sent inside the jail.

Speaking to India Today, Jail Superintendent Santosh Kumar Rai said, "Both thoroughly enjoyed their stay and kind of mesmerised with the history of the jail and life of a prisoner. Till now, 47 persons have experienced this unique tourism facility. We are hoping an increase in it with lot of foreigners coming in as several international news agencies and documentary makers have covered the government's effort."

During their 48-hour stay inside the jail they spent time doing gardening cleaning and other worked assigned to prisoners. However, they didn't cooked their meal, but relished Indian meal cooked by other inmates inside the jail.

The jail administration charges Rs 500 per person and provides pre-cooked meal while rest of the facilities are same as that of a common prisoner.

The idea of turning the heritage jail into a tourist spot is a brain child of VK Singh, the director general of prisons in Telangana. The jail was opened for tourists in June 2016 and since then several commoners have stayed in Sangareddy Prison.