Levuka Historical Port Town: Old Capital - See 15 traveller reviews, 16 candid photos, and great deals for Levuka, Fiji, at Tripadvisor. Sukuna Park, also in the CBD is a popular recreational park and has many performances and events on a weekly basis. Suva has a vibrant nightlife where most nightclubs and bars open in the late afternoon and remain open until 5 am. Add Caption. 21 talking about this. They're serviced by local buses (FJ$5) which takes about 40 minutes, and taxis ($30). In fact, during all 12 months of the year, Suva receives substantial precipitation, such that the term "fine weather" in a weather report simply means "not actually raining". It consists of 20 Councillors, elected for three-year terms from four multi-member constituencies called wards. Suva is host to more international and regional intergovernmental agencies and NGOs than any other Pacific Island capital. Albert Park, in the City centre, is famous as the stage for many national-historical events such as the Independence of Fiji, the landing by Kingsford Smith on the Southern Cross and many parades and carnivals. In return for a promise to pay off debts owed to the United States by the Bauan chieftain, Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the Australian-based Polynesia Company was granted 5,000 km2 (1,900 sq mi) of land, 575 km2 (222 sq mi) of it near what was then the village of Suva, in 1868. In 1877, it was decided to make Suva the capital of Fiji, as the geography of former main European settlement at Levuka on the island of Ovalau, Lomaiviti province proved too restrictive. Fijians of Indian descent have influenced Fiji's cuisine, in the process creating the uniquely Fiji Indian curry. Before Suva, the capital of Fiji was Levuka on Ovalau Island. Suva (Fijian pronunciation: [ˈsuβa]) is the capital and largest metropolitan city in Fiji. 16 October, 2017, 12:00 am . The administration of the colony was moved from Levuka to Suva in 1882. Concerts and shows are usually staged at one of the above-mentioned venues on a monthly basis. A special highlight is the Coca-Cola Games, the largest secondary school athletics meet in the world. Want to visit Levuka Fiji? Suva is the capital of Fiji and is a harbour city built on a peninsula reaching out into the sea. It offers courses which are internationally recognised and endorsed. Suva is the capital of Fiji and is a harbour city built on a peninsula reaching out into the sea. The museum houses the most extensive collection of Fijian artefacts in the world, and is also a research and educational institution, specialising in archaeology, the preservation of Fiji's oral tradition, and the publication of material on Fiji's language and culture. As of 2015[update], elected municipal government has not been restored. [4], Following the promulgation of the Municipal Constitution Ordinance of 1909, Suva acquired municipal status in 1910. Suva held the games for the second time in 1979. Suva has around 78 parks, these include the new Takashi Suzuki Garden, Apted Park at Suva Point which is a popular spot for viewing sunrise and sunset, Thurston Gardens which was opened in 1913 and has flora from throughout the South Pacific. More modern shopping malls, such as the Suva Central Shopping Mall, Mid-City Mall as well as MHCC are all part of the developments to give the city a modern and sophisticated look. The temple at the Old Capital of Fiji. Fiji Times. At the census in 2007, the last to date, Levuka town had a population of 1,131 (plus 3,266 living in the peri-urban area as defined by the Bureau of Statistics), about half of Ovalau's 8,360 inhabitants. Suva has a number of parks and a few gardens. Pixel Perfect Reproduction check . Royal Hotel - Dating back to the 1860's, it's the oldest hotel in Fiji. initially a tiny village with a small population of indigenous inhabitants Suva also hosts the headquarters of the Fashion Council of Fiji, the regions most significant fashion organisation. The city is built on a peninsula and reaches out into the sea. Prohibiting the sale of Fijian land, he also limited their involvement in commercial and political concerns, taxed them through their farming produce and governed indirectly and with respect to the traditional community structures. The old capital of FIJI which is Levuka were being recorded as the World Heritage Sites that are being depicted as history of Fiji. Councillors, who are elected by residents, landowners, and representatives of corporations owning or occupying rateable property in Suva, elect a Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor from among their own members; they serve one-year terms and are eligible for re-election. Both Bureta Airfield and Buresala Landing are on the west side of the island with Levuka on the east. By the 1870's it was in the midst of a short boom having a population of 3000 and 52 hotels to service them. This page was last edited on 20 December 2020, at 11:44. The Fijian Fashion Festival, the regions largest trade and consumer fashion platform, occurs annually at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva. This is a list of famous people who are either living in, or are originally from Suva. This urban complex (not including Lami) is known also as the Suva-Nausori corridor. Government House was formerly the residence of Fiji's colonial Governors and, following independence in 1970, Governors-General. Made with high-grade materials check . Suva offers a varied and interesting culinary experience where almost every if not all major cuisines are represented. Both are labelled on the map above. Terry Walk and the Flea Market offer handicrafts and local ware. During the course of the year, arts, music and trade festivals are held in Suva, albeit on a small scale. Headquartered in Suva are the three main national television stations, Fiji One, FBC TV and MAI TV along with the Fiji Ministry of Information, which produces government programs as well as national news and current affairs bulletins. The Suva City Council is the municipal law-making body of the city of Suva, Fiji's capital. National Fiji Day celebrations this year will be observed on a small scale keeping in mind the social and economic impacts of COVID-19. The first modern nation state of Fiji was founded in 1871 and at that time, Levuka had a population of 800. There is a large commercial and shopping scene in Suva with streets such as Cumming Street and Victoria Parade being popular. Guide to Unesco World Heritage Site Levuka. Apart from nightclubs, there are lounges and bars that cater to those seeking low-key entertainment. This was stated by the President Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote while speaking to students of Levuka Public School on Friday. The most widely spoken language is English, but Fijian, Hindustani, and other languages are also spoken by their respective communities. There are telecommunication and electronic stores, as well as sporting gear stores in the outer areas of this radius. Continue reading this article with a Fiji Times online membership. 1. The seedier side of Suva is Victoria Parade where night clubs such as Signals Night Club, East Court Restaurant, and Angel Night Club are located in the same stretch. Levuka was settled around the 1820's by European settlers and traders, and it was an important trading post. Suva boasts having representation of all major indigenous Pacific groups, and is sometimes referred to as the “New York of the Pacific". This is where modern Fiji was established. Like many other cities with a tropical rainforest climate, temperatures are relatively constant throughout the year, with an average high of about 28 °C (82 °F) and an average low of about 22 °C (72 °F). Downtown Suva has one main cinema complex, Village Six, owned by the Damodar Brothers. Suva has many multipurpose venues, the main ones being the Vodafone Arena, which can seat up to 5,000 people, the ANZ National Stadium, which can seat up to 30,000 people, the FMF National Gymnasium Suva, which can seat up to 2,000 people, and the Civic Auditorium, which can seat up to 1,000 people. The town was founded by sandalwood and beach-der-mer traders. We suggest clicking on the 'View Larger Map' here, or directly below the map for the preferred full-screen viewing. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. The town initially comprised one square mile; these boundaries remained intact until 1952 when the Muanikau and Samabula wards were annexed, expanding its territory to 13 km2 (5.0 sq mi). On our second day trip in the Captain Cook Cruise, we came to visit the Old Capital of Fiji, A small town called Levuka. There are many shopping complexes to visit and many markets. Levuka is rich in history with historical sites and remains all around. It has a mix of modern buildings and traditional colonial architecture. Indentured labourers brought with them spices, chilies and other herbs and vegetables which now are part of the Fijian culinary experience. Due to a favoured interests in Bollywood by all, some prominent singers and actors have held shows in the capital which includes singers like Shaan, Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan and movie artists like Shah Rukh Khan,[12] Priyanka Chopra,[13] Johnny Lever, Dino Morea, Rajpal Yadav, Sunny Leone and the like. Levuka was settled around the 1820's by European settlers and traders, and it was an important trading post. Suva has municipal status and is supposed to be governed by a Lord Mayor and a 20-member city council. The first modern nation state of Fiji was founded in 1871 and at that time, Levuka had a population of 800. Suva averages 3,000 mm (118 inches) of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm (4.92 in). Old Capital. Areas like Cumming Street and Marks Street are for clothing, jewellery, food, electronics, pharmaceuticals and more. This entire conurbation, is generally referred to by locals as Suva, although it contains four local government areas. Visit our Transport in Fiji section for contact details. 9 January, 2016, 12:00 am. Explore this charming old capital where modern Fiji first started. There are large industrial areas, the largest being at Walu Bay, where there is a saturation of factories and warehouses and import and export companies. 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