The military commander Solor and his friends are hunting near the temple where his lover, the bayadère Nikiya lives. Solor orders his loyal fakir Magedaveya to tell Nikiya that he will be waiting on her tonight.
The fire worship ceremony begins. The High Brahmin and the temple priests solemnly come out. The culmination of the festivities is the dance of the beautiful bayadère Nikiya.
Passionate love for Nikiya makes the High Brahmin forget about his vow of celibacy. He promises the girl all the riches of India in return for her love. But she rejects his passionate confessions. The Brahmin threatens to take revenge.
At night, the lovers meet secretly. The young warrior offers Nikiya to run away together. The girl agrees, renouncing her sacred oath of a temple dancer. Their conversation is being eavesdropped by the High Brahmin.
The Rajah’s Palace. Rajah Dugmanta announces to his daughter Gamzatti that she will become the wife of the noble warrior Solor. Gamzatti is happy. Although Solor is charmed by Gamzatti’s beauty, he cannot forget the bayadère to whom he swore to be faithful. However, he does not dare to refuse the high honour of becoming Gamzatti’s husband.
The High Brahmin tells the ruler about the secret meeting of Nikiya and Solor and their forbidden love. Although Dugmanta is angry, he does not change his mind about his daughter’s and the young warrior’s marriage. He orders to get rid of the bayadère.
Gamzatti, having eavesdropped on their conversation, calls for Nikiya. She offers the girl to perform a sacred dance at the upcoming wedding. Nikiya agrees, but then Gamzatti tells her the groom’s name and suggests she renounce Solor. Angry bayadère is about to attack the princess with a dagger but is stopped by a maid.
Nikiya is dancing at the wedding of Gamzatti and Solor. She cannot hide her despair and keeps looking at her beloved.
The Rajah orders to bring out a flower basket for the bayadère’s dance. A snake hidden there mortally wounds the girl. The High Brahmin offers her an antidote, but she refuses. Dying, she reminds Solor that he swore to love her forever.
Solor is inconsolable. He remembers his beloved. The Shades appear in his imagination, and among them is beautiful Nikiya, who invites him to follow.
Ballet in 3 acts.