North Passage Island is situated between Strait Island immediately to its south (home to the last remnants of the Great Andamanese tribe), Guitar Island and Long Island immediately to the north. John Lawrence Island in Ritchie’s archipelago lies to its east across the channel and the expanse of Middle Andaman lies to the west. It has a very little history of habitation apart from random visits from different sects of the Great Andamanese Tribe. The Agriculture Department of Andaman Islands was given nearly 100 acres of land for the establishment of a coconut plantation. As much as 95 per cent of the landmass of North Passage Island is designated Reserve Forest.
There is a lovely beach called Merk Bay that fronts the coconut plantation and looks out towards Ritchie’s Archipelago. There are calm and sheltered waters between North Passage and Middle Andaman Islands. It is a pristine beach accessible from Long Island and is located on North Passage Island. The North Passage Island is very close to Strait Island that hosts the primitive Ongi tribe people. The dense mangrove forest covers one side of North Passage Island. Your boat stops at this part of the island. Here, it anchors itself near a wooden jetty. You are required to walk through this narrow wooden jetty and walk for a few kilometers through the mangrove forest. This path opens up to the beautiful Merk Bay Beach.
How to reach North Passage Island:
North Passage Island is 30 kilometers northeast of Havelock Island. You have to hire a private chartered boat from the Long Island jetty to reach the Merk Bay Beach. On a clear day, it takes an hour to reach there.
North Passage Island is situated at a short distance from the governing city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Thus, frequent ferries are available. If you love travelling via water, then you can travel on the ferry from Port Blair to Long Island and from there to the North Passage Island. You can also reach the island via the bus plying from the capital city to Rangat Island and from there to Long Island. You should pick this option if you want to enjoy the beauty of the villages.
Best time to visit North Passage Island
Irrespective of the season, the island is always oozing with its scintillating beauty. It enriches each and every traveller and tickles them with the soothing climate. However, visiting the island in the monsoon season is considered to be unfavourable for tourists. The winter and summer season would be the most perfect if you want to witness the enchanting beauty of the mesmerising island.