| Nadi is the third-largest town in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population 30,791 at the last census, in 1996. Nadi is a multiracial town; many of its inhabitants are 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 Ahmadiya Mosque.
Nadi is 9 kilometers from Fiji's main international airport, which is served by Air Pacific (the international airline of Fiji), Air New Zealand, Pacific Blue, Korean Air and some other domestic airlines such as Pacific Sun, Air Fiji and V.I.P charter airline Air Wakaya. Thus, Nadi is the principal port of entry for air travelers to Fiji, despite that it is almost diametrically opposite the nation's capital and largest city, Suva, on the island of Viti Levu.
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 [wa.?ga.ndra] Botanical Gardens, and the Sleeping Giant Gardens, which house Raymond Burr's magnificent orchid collection.
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