Recommendations for Hill station in South India

I am planning for a long-due family vacation this summer and had almost zeroed in on Nainital(Uttarakhand itinerary request (seniors in tow)). I just realized that trains are totally booked all through May / June , and my budget wouldnt allow me for a flight. Sadly, I had to drop that plan, so looking for an alternative. The motto of this trip is "to Spend quality time with parents(aged 60-70 years) and kids (aged 3-8 years)". Given this and the group demographics I am looking at recommendations from IM veterans.

• Primary requirement is - "Cool Place for Summer".
• Piligrim interests added to the mix would be desirable but not absolutely necessary.
• Have a 10 day window with flexible start and end dates in the month of May.
• Already been to Aruku, Munnar & Coorg, so looking for places other than these. Nainital-like () look and feel is the target.
• My group likes to travel a lot and touch a lot of places vis-a-vis, lazing (relaxing!) at a single location.

Would really appreciate recommendations. Thanks in advance.

Have you considered Pachmarhi? It would be less crowded as compared to popular hill stations in South India.

I did think about it, but wasn't sure if it would be a good place to go in May (In my research I found that Oct-Mar is the best time).
Comparison with other *popular* South India Hill stations will certainly help me. Aarosh, if you have been to any other hill station in South India (like ooty, munnar etc.), can you share thoughts on this?

i am also planning for 7-10 days tour. but looking at Karnataka. i have identified following locations. check if they help you and fit within your requirements.

popular hill station will be very corwedy and will give you a feel of city tour.

we have to stationed at Chikmanglur a tiny cool place in middle of the state. Around this manglore, kemmangundi, bellur, hasan, chitrdurga, shringeri, agumbe, udapi, bhadra wile life sanctuary are attractive options.

Many Home and coffee estate stay options are available.

since you will be middle of the state tempreture will not be so high. Not touching costal and rocky places like Badami, Hampi etc.

work on this and also share with me.

Thanks for sharing the info mmlele.
My target is hill-station. Places like mangalore, bellur, hasan, chitradurg, udupi, shringeri etc. do not quite fit into that slot. To my knowledge Summer at these places are better avoided. Nevertheless, places like Agumbe, Kemmandgundi etc. may be good bets.
I have the constrain of using only Rail as the mode of transport to reach the primary location (due to Seniors in tow). Also, ticket availability in trains is going to be a big factor in my choice.
At this time, I am still actively considering Panchmarhi. Will share with you any more information / developments on my side as they happen.

Do consider Pachmarhi. I have been there thrice including my honeymoon. Its a place where the seniors can get their share of temples / pilgrimage and the younger lots can get a lot of adventures.

Honestly if you want to cover all the places in Pachhmarhi it would actually take 5 days.

To add to it, you will also be able to cover the Satpura Tiger Reserve which gives you the added flavour of a forest.

As you have a 10 days window, you can include Jabalpur in your itinerary where you can see the Marble Rocks and the Dhuadhar Falls, though it will be as hot as any other plain-land cities.

panchmari in central india will be hot. you will be traveling from the hottest area till you reach there. there are lot of ups and downs in panchmari. at times you have to use 4 wheel drive vehcile to reach to water fall and need to climb many stairs to reach to top point. Check how comfortable it would be for senior citizans. You can also Check Panchgani Mahabaleshwar Near Pune.