Forts & Heritage
Overbury's Folly
A cliff-top garden park in Thalassery, built as a seaside retreat over the Arabian Sea.
- 31 km from Nesma Palace
- 33 min drive
- Best: Late afternoon to sunset
- Ideal for families and couples for an easy evening
- Distance from Nesma Palace
- 31 km
- Drive time
- 33 min
- Best time
- Late afternoon to sunset
- Time to allow
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Category
- Forts & Heritage
- Ideal for
- Families and couples for an easy evening
About Overbury's Folly
Overbury's Folly is a small park on a rocky point above the sea in Thalassery. An English judge named E. N. Overbury laid it out in the late 1800s as a private seaside retreat, and locals gave it the name folly.
Today it is a public park where people come in the evening to sit above the waves, watch the sunset and let children run on the lawns. It is a simple, breezy spot rather than a big sight.
Things to see and do
Sea views from the cliff
The park sits on a rocky point with the sea below, good for sunset and a sea breeze.
Evening park life
Lawns, benches and a relaxed local crowd in the evenings.
Close to the fort
It is a short hop from Thalassery Fort, so the two go together.
Best time and tips
Late afternoon to sunset, October to March.
- It is best in the evening for the breeze and sunset.
- There is a small or no entry fee.
- Combine it with Thalassery Fort nearby.
- Watch children near the cliff edge.
Local tip
It is barely a kilometre from Thalassery Fort, walk it if the weather is kind.
Getting there
The drive from Nesma Palace
Road route and geography © OpenStreetMap contributors
By road from the hotel
31 km · about 33 min
- Time to allow there
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Starting point
- Nesma Palace, Mattannur
- Flying in
- Kannur International Airport is 7.8 km from the hotel, about 10 minutes by road
Plan your stay
Stay 33 min away at Nesma Palace
Overbury's Folly is about 33 minutes from Nesma Palace, a calm end to a day in Thalassery.
Nesma Palace is a 4-star hotel in Mattannur, 7.8 km from Kannur International Airport, and an easy base for exploring Kannur.
Nearby places to explore
Make a day of it · Half day
Thalassery in a Day
Colonial Malabar packed into a few square kilometres, and the best biryani on the coast at the end of it.
Nesma Palace, Mattannur
28.8 km · 31 min drive
Gundert Bungalow2.8 km · 3 min drive
Thalassery Fort0.7 km · 1 min drive
Overbury's Folly (you are here)
5.1 km · 6 min drive
Dharmadam Island
Frequently asked questions
What is Overbury's Folly?
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A cliff-top seaside park in Thalassery, laid out by an English judge in the late 1800s and now a public garden popular for sunset.
Is Overbury's Folly worth visiting?
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It is a short, pleasant stop rather than a major sight, best in the evening for the sea breeze and sunset, and easy to pair with Thalassery Fort.
Where to stay near Overbury's Folly?
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Nesma Palace in Mattannur is about 33 minutes away and close to Thalassery's other heritage spots.