The breaking of dawn heralded the beginning of another bright summer day. Mrs Okelay Rose Cheema, a sprightly British lady got up early as usual and bustled about supervising the activities of the kitchen and the housekeeping staff. By seven in the morning, the Alfensteen Hotel (constructed in 1930 by Sardar Mohinder Singh Cheema) slowly came to life. The guests sauntered into the spacious dining room and the air was soon filled with the aroma of freshly ground coffee and lively conversation. The hotel was "strategically" situated on the busy highway between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. It was the days before Independence, the war had been won and the mood among the British officers and other European guests was definitely upbeat. For many, it was the end of an extended holiday in the salubrious climes in the breathtakingly beautiful Kashmir Valley, about which the famous Irish poet, Thomas Moore, had lovingly written:

We could easily visualise the guests making their way to well liveried horse drawn carriages with patiently waiting grooms. And as they sauntered out of their well appointed suites, their eyes involuntarily swept upwards to the three majestic Chinar trees whose shade covered the spacious front courtyard and the main reception.

The name of the hotel was changed and it came to be known as the Himalian Hotel. But the idyllic peace that had reigned for so long was soon to be shattered by marauding hordes of tribal raiders, who swept into Kashmir, looting and pillaging at will. Independent India was about to face its first major challenge. It responded with fierce determination and the first troop carrying Dakotas landed in Srinagar on October 26, 1947 and after a series of skirmishes, the soldiers reached Baramulla and slowly but determinedly succeeded in pushing the raiders out of the Valley and beyond Uri. This action saw unmatched gallantry and sacrifice by the troops of the famous 'Srinagar or 'Sri' Division. The Division took over the defence of the entire Kashmir Valley and therefore, it was acknowledged as the "saviours of Kashmir".This Division, now the "Dagger Division" (which had been bestowed with the singular honour to capture Mandalay in 1994) became synonymous with the history of Kashmir and its great people.

The first General Officer Commanding of this Division was Maj Gen K S Thimmaya, affectionately known as "Timmy" who later rose to become the Chief of the Army Staff. "Timmy's" office, and thence of his illustrious successors, till this day, remains the erstwhile master suite of the Himalian Hotel.