Nadi - City of Fiji

Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign tourists. Along with sugar cane production, tourism is a mainstay of the local economy. The Nadi region has a higher concentration of hotels and motels than any other part of Fiji.

With its large Indo-Fijian population, Nadi is a centre for Hinduism and Islam in Fiji. The downtown area is defined by the Nadi River and Viseisei village on the west side, and the beautfiul Sri Siva Subramaniya temple on the east. It is the largest Hindu temple in the Southern hemisphere, and is a site for pilgrims. Muslims worship at the Nadi Mosque and the Ahmadiyyahs worship at the Ahmadiya Mosque.

Nadi is a hub of commerce and tourism, with about 18 hotels, and is popular among travelers seeking to take ferries to island resorts in Fiji's western Mamanuca Group of islands. The town is also close to the western mud-flat beaches. It is also close to the Nausori highlands to the east, and can access the Sabeto and Sigatoka valleys. Other sites are the Waqadra Botanical Gardens, and the Sleeping Giant Gardens, which house Raymond Burr's magnificent orchid collection.


Nadi Township was established in 1947. Around that time Government of Fiji has established its own "Government Station" on the higher grounds of Nadi. It is said that a couple of business set up their business around the "Government Station" to service the Government Station. The other business organization from other parts of Fiji also followed the suit. It is reported that there was a very strong move by some concerned citizens of Nadi to move the town center to Martintar because of the existing center being so prone to flooding. This did not materialize because the move to shift the town center to Martintar came in too late as the Nadi Township had already developed string roots in the existing location.