By Rama Gaind.
Beachside relaxation makes for an ideal holiday in Fiji. Photo: Rama Gaind
Think Fiji. Close your eyes and, for the most part, all you can visualise is lazy, hazy days, basking in the sun. Getting re-acquainted with the delights of travel, and Fiji, also means appreciating the positives of this quintessential island paradise.
A country in the southern Pacific Ocean, Fiji is famed for rugged landscapes, palm-lined beaches and coral reefs with clear lagoons. Well-known for its intense tropical beauty, it should not come as a surprise to learn that many people spend most of their time here on and around the beach. While there are plenty of stunning shores to explore, those looking for change will discover some unique and interesting cultural attractions.
Re-experiencing some of the natural wonders was invigorating. Enjoy the amazing underwater beauty as you scuba dive with manta rays; get a taste of island life on the lush, mountainous Robinson Crusoe Island; take a fascinating look into Fiji’s past at the Fiji Museum, in Suva; combine ancient history with natural beauty to see the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park; visit the Garden Island to witness the natural beauty of Taveuni Island; soak in the waters at Sabeto Hot Springs close to Nadi to rejuvenate your mind and body; enjoy an unbelievable way of preparing food and eat dinner cooked in a traditional Fijian lovo; or spend time island-hopping by boat!
Staying in a resort in Fiji boasts endless fun and fabulous facilities suited to every kind of traveller.
Whether its waterfalls, reefs or pristine waters perfect for divers, Fiji has some notable sights. Being the largest cave system, it’s not hard to believe when you realise that Naihehe literally translated into English means ‘a place to get lost’. On arrival at the caves, it is important to seek permission of the Bete (priest), the traditional protector of the cave. There are many hot springs in Fiji, but those at Savusavu have an interesting historical background.
Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple, in Nadi, is brightly coloured and is the largest Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere. It’s one of few places where Dravidian architecture can be seen outside of India. Another religious site is the Sacred Cobra Rock, housed in what has been called the ‘snake temple’ in Labasa, the largest town on Vanua Levu. The locals believe that the rock, which is shaped like a cobra, can cure the sick and the infertile. An intriguing belief is that the (now) three-metre-high rock has grown bigger over the years, so much so that the roof of the temple has had to be raised four times since the 1950s.
Tavuni Hill Fort, Sigatoka, is a semi-restored ancient fort. The items displayed inside, are almost perfectly preserved, and provide a direct look into Fijian history.
Island wonderland
The brightly-coloured Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple is in Nadi. Photo: Rama Gaind
When it comes to islands, Viti Levu is the largest, called home by 70 per cent of the nation’s population, followed by Vanua Levu, formerly known as Sandalwood Island. Ovalau is the sixth largest island in Fiji, and is just 13 kilometres long and 10 kilometres wide. Formerly the capital of Fiji, Levuka is the largest of the 24 settlements on the island of Ovalau.
One of the formerly nicknamed Cannibal Islands, Viti Levu, was also home to the infamous cannibal Udre Udre, holding the Guinness World Record for the ‘most prolific cannibal’.
An archipelago of more than 300 islands, the major ones, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, contain most of the population. Viti Levu is home to the capital, Suva, a port city with British colonial architecture. The Fiji Museum, in the Victorian-era Thurston Gardens, has ethnographic exhibits.
Apart from a large number of islands, Fiji also has at least 500 islets. Most of them owe their formation to volcanic activity which began occurring in the region approximately 150,000,000 years ago.
The residents of Fiji reside in 110 of the nation’s biggest islands with Viti Levu and Vanua Levu having the most significant population. The largest proportion of the inhabitants of Viti Levu live along the island’s coast since the interior is not habitable due to the terrain. Another of Fiji’s islands with a significant population is the island of Vanua Levu.
Spend some time discovering the ancient sights and delving into Fiji’s past on the main island of Viti Levu or experiencing a taste of island life as you explore the region’s volcanic landscapes, lush jungles and traditional villages.
Film incentive
Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks starred in Cast Away which was filmed in Fiji.
Another fascinating fact was learning about incentives from the Fiji government to attract film producers. It provides a tax rebate to fully-funded overseas film productions as a means to encourage producers to use the enormous potential of the islands. The use of its stunning backdrops in films will once again generate more tourism for Fiji.
It offers a variety of scenic locations including aquamarine seas, coral reefs, sandy and secluded beaches fringed by palm trees and endless sunshine, lush tropical greenery and rocky hills, coconut groves and sugarcane fields. No wonder film producers have chosen Fiji for many films – both from Hollywood and Bollywood.
Over the years, titles have included The Blue Lagoon (1980), Contact (1997), Cast Away (2000), Adrift (2018), Sweetheart (2019) and Fantasy Island (2020). Fijian islands have also emerged as hotspots for Indian films. Several Hindi movies shot on the picturesque locales are 3G, Warning, Bombay Mumbai, Kia, Let’s Talk Love and Table No. 21, to name but a few.
Endless fun and fabulous facilities await every type of traveller who goes to this tropical island nation. The slogan says it all: ‘Fiji. Oh, so easy!’
DETAILS BOX
www.tourismfiji.com
Holiday packages from Fiji Airways
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