Tanjore painting is a classical South Indian painting style, which was inaugurated from the town of Thanjavur (anglicized as Tanjore). The art form draws its inspiration from way back about 1600 AD, a period when the Nayakas of Thanjavur under the suzerainty of the VijayanagaraRayas encouraged art—chiefly, classical dance and music—as well as literature, both in Telugu and Tamil and painting of chiefly Hindu religious subjects in temples. It is distinguished by its famous gold coating. It has been recognized as a Geographical indication by the Government of India in 2007-08.