This ballet tells the story of a Indian temple dancer, Nikiya, and the General Solor, who loves Nikiya but is forced to marry the daughter of the Rajah, Gamzatti.
Gamzatti sends Nikiya a basket of flowers concealing a poisonous snake. Bitter by it Nikiya dies. Solor dreams of meeting her in the Kingdom of shades.
In the fourth act of the ballet, at the wedding of Solor and Gamzatti the temple collapses, burying them under the ruins.

This ballet was performed in St. Petersburg in 1877, to M Petipa’s choreography and music by L. Minkus.

1993: The "PAS DE TROIS" of the second act was performed in Larissa by the Professional Level Preparatory Class.