One of the ancient historical and architectural monuments of Sheki is the Gileili Mosque. Belonging to the XVIII century, this mosque was located in the north-eastern part of Sheki, in the Kulekhlinsky Mahal on the banks of the Gurdzhan River, flowing through the city, at an altitude of 20-25 meters from its level, at a distance of 8-10 meters from the cliff. On four sides, the minaret of the mosque is surrounded by a stone fence of two meters in height. Currently, the minaret is taken under state protection as a historical and architectural monument.
The interior of the mosque, built in the traditional Sheki architectural style, characteristic of simple residential buildings, resembled the palace of Sheki khans. When looking at the patterns, images on the wall, it seemed that the inner walls of the palace and mosque were the result of the work of the same master.
Having become a victim of atheism, the Gileili mosque was destroyed. Fortunately, the minaret of the Gileili mosque has survived to this day. From west to east, along the northern side of the fence, extends the remaining part of the mosque wall, 27 meters long. Due to the fact that the tower minaret is 13.5 meters high and is located on a hill, it offers a beautiful view of the surrounding area. The supporting wall, horizontally adjacent to the mosque, speaks of its stability. Part of the mosque to the supporting wall is built of stone, and the upper part is made of red brick.
The minaret, which tapers as it rises, is decorated with brickwork with embossed patterns. The minaret is completed by a balcony with a dome covered with iron sheets. In the wide courtyard, between the mosque and the minaret, there is a pool, in the form of a geometric figure, two meters deep. Water is supplied to the pool using clay pipes from the Gurjan River.
In order to climb the minaret, intended for clergy, more than 20 stone steps were built on the supporting wall, with the purpose of protection from the sun, rain and cold, wooden boards were placed on either side. To pass the sun, small windows have been made here. An arched door is placed at the end of the stairs to enter the minaret.
Gileili Minaret is the first and highest minaret in the area of Sheki-Zagatala.