Act 1:

First scene: in front of the temple
The noble warrior Solor, eager to offer the Rajah a tiger’s hide, sends his friends out hunting whilst he stays near the temple in the hope of secretly meeting his sweetheart the bayadère Nikiya, one of the temple dancers guarding the sacred flame.

The Grand Brahmin confesses his love to Nikiya. Shocked by the declaration, the bayadère reminds him that he is a priest and a high-ranking dignitary while she is merely a temple dancer. She rejects him.
The Dance of the daggers. The fakir and the Hindus mortify themselves.

When Nikiya serves a drink to the fakir she learns that Solor is nearby and that once the ceremony is over he will come to find her. Solor swears over the sacred flame that he will always love Nikiya. The Grand Brahmin stumbles upon them and is consumed with jealousy. The fakir alerts Nikiya and Solor to the presence of the priest. They go their separate ways. The Grand Brahmin vows revenge.

Second scene: Inside the Rajah’s palace
The Rajah of Golconda throws a party in honour of his daughter Gamzatti, who will soon be married to Solor. He invites the Kshatriyas, friends of Solor. The Djampo Dance (with veils attached to the ankles of the dancers).

The Rajah summons his daughter Gamzatti and introduces her to Solor, whom he wants her to marry. Solor, wanting to remain true to his oath to Nikiya, would like to refuse but he must obey the Rajah, who has invited the temple dancer Nikiya to perform to bless the betrothal. The Adagio of Nikiya with the slave (musical interpolation by Cesare Pugni).
Troubled and embarrassed, Solor hides so as not to be seen by the temple dancer.

The Grand Brahmin comes to inform the Rajah of the romantic relationship between Solor and the temple dancer Nikiya. Furious at seeing his plans thwarted, the Rajah decides to rid himself of the bayadère. The Grand Brahmin, who was hoping to undermine Solor, had failed to anticipate the disaster that would befall Nikiya. Gamzatti, overhearing the conversation, summons Nikiya in order to show her the portrait of her future husband. Nikiya realises with horror that it is Solor but refuses to believe that he has betrayed her. The two rivals quarrel. Gamzatti goes so far as to offer jewels to Nikiya if she will renounce Solor. Nikiya rushes at Gamzatti with a dagger but the servant Aiya holds her back. Gamzatti considers getting rid of the insolent bayadère.

Act 2:
The betrothal of Gamzatti and Solor
The Rajah has invited his people to celebrate his daughter’s engagement.
A series of dances follow.
The Wedding Procession.
The Fan Dance.
The Parrot Dance.
The Children Entrance.
The Golden Idol Variation.
The Manou Dance (a young girl with a jug balanced on her head).
The Indian Dance.

During the festivities, Nikiya has to dance before the guests. Aiya, Gamzatti’s servant, presents the bayadère with a basket of flowers. It conceals a snake which fatally bites Nikiya. The Grand Brahmin offers Nikiya an antidote to the poison if she surrenders herself to him. Seeing Gamzatti holding back Solor, Nikiya lets herself die after calling on the gods to curse those responsible for her demise.

Act 3:

First scene: Solor’s room

In despair at Nikiya’s death, Solor takes refuge in opium-fuelled dreams.
Solor’s Variation.
Dance of the Hindus: Solor enters the realm of dreams.

Second scene: The Shades
In a long hypnotic procession, the Shades, ghosts of dead bayadères, appear before Solor: among them, he sees Nikiya who forgives him. And in the dream they are reunited again.